More than 1,000 people have been forced to flee their homes after a wildfire burned through around 30,000 acres of land in northern Spain.
A wildfire has burned through around 30,000 acres of land in a popular Spanish holiday area, forcing more than 1,000 people to flee their homes.
The blaze in Zaragoza province began in a pine forest in Cerro de Cinco Villas, near the housing developments of Los Robles and San Lorenzo, prompting the deployment of around 400 emergency responders and 19 aircraft.
Footage shared by Spain’s Civil Guard shows flames racing across woodland as thick orange smoke fills the sky while emergency crews continue battling the fire. Authorities said the fire remained “quite active” and was “still far from being stabilised” on Saturday afternoon.
Around 450 ground personnel, 11 fire engines, 16 ground crews, six helicopters and two bulldozers have been deployed to tackle the blaze.
The towns of Orés, Asín, Luesia, Malpica de Arba and Uncastillo remain under evacuation orders.
Spain’s Ministry of Defence said emergency crews were continuing to work alongside authorities in the Aragon region to contain the wildfire. Officials said the fire’s perimeter measured around 15,800 hectares by 5pm on Saturday.
Emergency crews remain at the scene as efforts continue to bring the wildfire under control amid hot, dry conditions.
Spain has endured repeated heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures regularly climbing above 40C during the summer.
Earlier this week, at least 12 people died in a separate wildfire in Almería province, including seven Britons. Among those killed were Pete and Fran Gillam, who lived in the village of Bédar.
