France, Aug. 6 -- One person has died and several firefighters have been injured after a wildfire tore through 11,000 hectares of forest between Lagrasse and Ribaute in southern France.

The victim, described as an elderly woman, was found dead in her house in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse as more than 1,500 firefighters battled the blaze that broke out on Tuesday afternoon.

Seven aircraft dropped thousands of tonnes of water to stop the fire reaching homes in the villages of Lagrasse, Fabrezan and Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse.

Water drops resumed on Wednesday morning. More than 300 firefighters from nearby regions were due to arrive as reinforcements.

Several roads were closed to allow emergency crews to get through faster, said Au...