Categories: World

Spain wildfire forces 3,000 residents to evacuate

A wildfire that started last week in Spain's Huelva province has continued to spread, prompting the evacuation of around 3,000 residents from nearby areas.

Twenty-five aircraft and helicopters are helping to combat the blaze, that first erupted on August 27, along with 250 firemen, supported by 157 members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit and local volunteers, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Agricultural Minister for the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Carmen Crespo, told reporters that it would be a while before people were able to return home because "it is a fire with a very large growth, whose perimeter must be sealed, and, for the moment, we must prevent anyone from returning".

It is believed that the fire began as the result of sparks from a car, which quickly spread due to high temperatures and strong winds in a region of pine woodlands and scrub.

The quantities of undergrowth, which is now dry, are large due to a wet spring and the coronavirus lockdown.

Crespo explained that lower temperatures in the coming days will help firefighters.

Wildfires are a constant problem in Spain during summer months, with 3,607 fires of varying size reported this year by July 12..

IANS

Recent Posts

PM Modi meets President of Kuwait Heritage Society, praises works of preserving India-Kuwaiti artefacts

PM Modi meets President of Kuwait Heritage Society, praises works of preserving India-Kuwaiti artefacts Official…

3 minutes ago

EAM Jaishankar honoured with Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award for public leadership

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was awarded the Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award for…

19 hours ago

PM Modi interacts with Indian workers at Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait, where…

19 hours ago

INS Tushil makes first port call to London on maiden deployment

INS Tushil made its first port call to London as a part of its maiden…

19 hours ago

Kuwait: PM Modi receives grand welcome from Indian diaspora; watches cultural performance, meets 101-year-old ex-IFS officer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived in Kuwait with a rousing welcome, as members of the…

2 days ago

PM Modi arrives in Kuwait, says visit will strengthen bilateral friendship across various sectors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait to a warm welcome on Saturday. He is…

2 days ago