The flames are still raging in Portbou, Spain, near the border with France. While firefighters are still battling the fire, it has been announced to be of human origin.
It will soon 24 hours that firefighters fight against the fire of Portbou, in Spain. Only a few kilometers from the border with France, the fire is still raging, this Saturday, August 5, 2023.
More than 435 hectares covered
In the early morning, the latest reports showed 200 hectares covered by the flames. A few hours later, the figure doubled. At the end of the morning, this Saturday, our colleagues from Emporda indicate that more than 435 hectares went up in smoke since Friday, 5 p.m. “More than 200 firefighters continue to be in action with the aim that the eastern flank does not progress towards Llançà”, they state.
Power, water and telephone cuts
Still according to our colleagues, these fires have consequences for the inhabitants of Llança, Portbou or Colera : some find themselves, in fact, without water, electricity or telephone.
The fire is progressing towards the sea, and multiple other fires have been deplored by the rescuers. According to our colleagues, a potential fire in Llançà could become dramatic and reach 3,000 hectares.
At the end of the morning, the Catalan firefighters indicated, on X (formerly Twitter), that 98 crews were on the front, including 6 aerial. “Bombers and coordination and command helicopters fly there,” they said.
human origin
Emporda reported the first elements provided by rural agents. These, who marked out the area in which the fire broke out, certified that the origin was human, and that possible natural causes were excluded. As a reminder, 135 people were evacuated of several campsites, and temporary shelters have been deployed.
