A massive wildfire has scorched approximately 30,000 acres of land in a popular vacation spot in Spain, leading to the evacuation of over 1,000 residents from their homes.
The fire started in a pine forest in Cerro de Cinco Villas, located near the residential areas of Los Robles and San Lorenzo in Zaragoza province. This prompted the mobilization of about 400 emergency personnel and 19 aircraft to combat the blaze.
Videos shared by Spain’s Civil Guard depict flames swiftly spreading through the forest, accompanied by dense orange smoke filling the skies as emergency teams tirelessly fight the fire. Authorities have noted that the fire remains highly active and is still a considerable distance from being under control as of Saturday afternoon.
Several towns, including Orés, Asín, Luesia, Malpica de Arba, and Uncastillo, have been issued evacuation orders while firefighters are working diligently to safeguard the local residences.
The Ministry of Defence in Spain reported that emergency teams are working in collaboration with local authorities in the Aragon region to contain the wildfire. By Saturday afternoon, the perimeter of the fire had expanded to around 15,800 hectares.
Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, the regional finance and interior minister of Aragon, expressed cautious optimism regarding the fire’s progression, stating that the perimeter has not enlarged, and the fire is no longer as uncontrollable as it was in previous days. However, he emphasized that the situation is still far from being stabilized and highlighted the need for a substantial effort over the upcoming days to bring the situation under control swiftly.
Firefighters, helicopters, bulldozers, and specialized ground crews are still present at the scene, actively working to contain the fire.
Spain has been grappling with recurring heatwaves in recent times, with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 40°C.
Earlier in the week, a separate wildfire in Almería province claimed the lives of at least 12 individuals, including seven British nationals. Among the victims were Pete and Fran Gillam, residents of Bédar village.