More than 170 soldiers have been dispatched to assist in the evacuation of a popular vacation spot following a wildfire that created a 65-foot wall of flames engulfing two villages in the southeastern region of Spain.
Nearly 200 individuals have been relocated after a forest fire swept through the villages in Murcia, situated a short distance from the southern Costa Blanca near Benidorm and Alicante.
Yesterday evening, approximately 170 soldiers from the Army’s specialized UME unit were called in to aid the firefighters and other emergency responders combating the fire both on the ground and from the air.
Hikers on the nearby mountain ridge of Cresta Del Gallo raised the alarm at 3 pm yesterday upon witnessing fires breaking out at a nearby national park.
The fire quickly spread across the Murcia area, prompting distressed locals to make over 200 calls to emergency services.
Videos from the scene depict frightened tourists and residents fleeing from the towering inferno, which rapidly intensified as it devoured everything in its path.
A team of over 300 firefighters, emergency personnel, and soldiers were mobilized to tackle the blaze, with aircraft and helicopters flying overhead to douse the flames with water.
The fire, which has currently scorched over 270 hectares of land, has led to one individual being treated for burns.
In a startling revelation, emergency services suggested that the fire may have been deliberately set by an arsonist, stating that “initial theories indicate the fire was set intentionally.”
Murcia mayor Rebeca Perez mentioned that emergency services had been tirelessly working overnight to combat the fire “non-stop.”
“To all the residents of Los Garres and the impacted areas, we extend our sympathy and support after a particularly challenging day,” she expressed.
“The fire in Los Garres is still active. This morning, we bolstered firefighting efforts by progressively introducing aerial resources, while the Regional Government of Murcia (CARM), the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and emergency services continue their ground operations.”
One local resident, among those who voluntarily left their homes before mandatory evacuation orders, commented earlier in the day: “The entire sky is gray. You can see the smoke from here, and the fire is still raging.”
Another individual remarked: “Numerous residential neighborhoods were dangerously close to the fire.
“I’m referring to a street only 13 feet wide facing a towering flame front measuring 65 feet high.
“Due to the heavy rainfall in Murcia and throughout Spain, the area was still lush green until a month ago, and there wasn’t sufficient time for clearance. The underbrush burned dramatically.”
As of Wednesday morning, emergency services indicated that the forest fire has no active flames but does have some hot spots, which pose no immediate risk.