MADRID: Spain’s first major forest fire of the year has destroyed some 600 hectares of land in just 24 hours in the east of the country, according to the authorities, reported dpa.
Some 180 people have been evacuated in the affected mountainous region around Tàrbena in Alicante province, some 90 kilometres south of Valencia, broadcaster RTVE reported on Monday, citing the authorities.
The fire, which broke out on Sunday less than 15 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea, is spreading rapidly, it said.
Pilar Bernabé, the representative of Madrid’s central government in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, told journalists that the cause was suspected to be slash-and-burn practices. The area destroyed by Monday afternoon is equivalent to more than 800 football pitches.
Fifteen firefighting and 10 forest protection units had been deployed on Monday to fight the flames, aided by eight helicopters and fire-fighting aeroplanes, according to the Valencia emergency forces.
Strong winds and temperatures of more than 25 degrees Celsius – unusual warm weather for mid-April – had been hampering the firefighting efforts, according to a spokesman for the Valencia regional government.
However, the spokesman said that they were optimistic that the fire raging around Tàrbena as well as several smaller ones on the Costa Blanca coastline could soon be extinguished.
Eastern Spain has seen several days of temperatures soaring to up to 30 degrees, leading to crowded beaches. Cooler weather is expected throughout Spain from Wednesday. – BERNAMA-dpa
