A forest fire near the popular holiday destination of Tarifa in southern Spain has led to the evacuation of several hotels, residential areas and a campsite, officials said on Wednesday.
Some 5,000 vehicles were “brought to safety in record time,” according to the interior minister of the Andalusian region, Antonio Sanz. Official figures for the number of affected tourists and residents was not disclosed, but the Diario de Cádiz newspaper reported that about 1,500 people were evacuated on Tuesday evening.
The fire broke out around 4 pm on Tuesday, possibly due to a camper van catching fire at the La Torre de la Peña campsite, the newspaper wrote, citing the fire brigade. The exact cause remains unclear.
Strong winds fuel flames
Hefty winds in the region caused the fire to spread rapidly, according to reports. At one point, a 9-kilometre stretch of the important N-340 motorway had to be closed.
The southern edge of the fire, which is particularly critical due to its proximity to residential areas, has now been stabilized, Minister Sanz stated.
As of Wednesday morning, around 125 emergency personnel were working to combat the blaze, according to the Andalusian emergency services. They were backed by 17 firefighting planes and helicopters.