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Lightning strike sparks forest fires in northern Murcia
Firefighters are still working to extinguish the flames in Fortuna
On the afternoon of Monday June 26, several forest fires broke out in the north of the Region of Murcia after a lightning strike from the electrical storms hit the ground and ignited the countryside.
Specifically, the fires occurred in the Sierra de la Pila in Fortuna, close to the Alicante border; between the Sierra de Lavia and Valle del Aceniche in Cehegín; and in the Finca de la Yedra and the Sierra del Carche in Jumilla.
Thanks to the quick work of firefighters, forestry brigades, environmental agents and a helicopter, by 9.30pm the Jumilla and Cehegín fires had been brought under control.
At 10.30pm, the Jumilla fires were reported to have been fully extinguished, and a couple of hours later the fire in Cehegín was put out too.
However, more fire crews and helicopters had to be added to battle the blaze in Fortuna, who worked throughout the night to try to keep it from spreading.
Despite their best efforts, the fire remains active in Fortuna and has not yet been brought under control, which is when a fire has been contained and the flames are no longer spreading to new areas.
These are the first large wildfires of the summer in the Region of Murcia, but if recent history is anything to go by this will be another extremely hot, dry and destructive summer in Spain with a lot of forest fires.
Regional authorities activated their forest fire risk plan early this year, after forest fires increased by 133% in the first four months of the year compared to 2022.
Images 1 & 2: UDIF
Image 3: 112 Región de Murcia
Image 4: Ayuntamiento de Jumilla
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