ARCHIVED - Tarragona wildfire stabilized after 40 evacuated from threatened campsite
Extreme risk of forest fires in Spain this weekend as Spain swelters in 40-degree temperatures
The heatwave which is currently affecting most of mainland Spain has led to an extreme risk of wildfires breaking out, and in the southern Catalunya province of Tarragona a campsite had to be evacuated on Thursday as a blaze affected at least 59 hectares of land.
By 21.00 on Thursday firefighters reported that the fire had been “stabilized” and it is hoped that during Friday it can be brought fully under control, although temperatures reaching 40 degrees are likely to hinder emergency services personnel as they seek to limit the damage.
The fire broke out early in the afternoon in Pobla de Massaluca and affected the nature reserve of Tossals d'Almatret i Riba-Roja, and at one point it was feared that as much as 1,200 hectares could be affected with the flames spreading towards the boundary with the region of Aragón. As a precautionary measure approximately 40 people were evacuated from a local campsite and taken to the sports pavilion of Fayón, in the province of Zaragoza.
At the same time, rail services in the area were cancelled as Adif cut the power supply to overhead lines.
The cause of the blaze has not yet been established, but in many parts of Spain the authorities are restricting access to regional parks in order to reduce the risk of similar fires being started due to carelessness on the part of visitors.
Image: @bomberscat