A massive wildfire has swept through approximately 30,000 acres of land in a popular vacation spot in Spain, leading to the evacuation of over 1,000 residents from their homes.
The fire started in a pine forest in Cerro de Cinco Villas, located near the residential areas of Los Robles and San Lorenzo in Zaragoza province. This incident triggered the mobilization of about 400 emergency personnel and 19 aircraft to combat the blaze.
Video footage released by Spain’s Civil Guard captures the rapid spread of flames through the forest, with thick orange smoke dominating the sky as emergency teams persist in battling the inferno. Authorities have indicated that the fire remains highly active and is yet to be fully contained as of Saturday afternoon.
Several towns including Orés, Asín, Luesia, Malpica de Arba, and Uncastillo have been issued evacuation orders while firefighters work diligently to safeguard properties in the area.
The Ministry of Defence in Spain has reported that emergency crews are working closely with local authorities in the Aragon region to manage the wildfire. By 5 pm on Saturday, the fire’s perimeter had expanded to about 15,800 hectares.
Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, the regional finance and interior minister of Aragon, expressed cautious optimism about the fire’s progress, stating that the containment efforts have shown positive signs, though the situation is still far from being fully under control.
The firefighting operation continues with the presence of firefighters, helicopters, bulldozers, and specialized ground teams on the ground to contain the fire’s spread.
Spain has faced recurrent heatwaves in recent times, with temperatures frequently exceeding 40°C during the summer season.
Just earlier this week, a separate wildfire in Almería province claimed at least 12 lives, including seven British nationals, such as Pete and Fran Gillam from Bédar village.
