France arrests 474 people on suspicion of starting fire

The French Interior Ministry said 474 people have been arrested on suspicion of starting a fire, whether that be intentional ​or not, Report informs via Reuters.

Of that total, 183 are younger than 18. About ​70% of ⁠the people detained are suspected of arson, the ministry has previously said.

The area affected by wildfires in France this year has reportedly reached 100,000 hectares. This is a record figure in the 20 years since the relevant satellite observations began.

The most affected was the Gironde department, located in the southwest of the country, where tens of thousands of hectares of land burned.