After announcing earlier in the day the stabilization of a fire that broke out on Saturday in Bonares, in the province of Huelva in Andalusia, the regional service dedicated to forest fires (Infoca) announced the start of a second fire scale, further south on the Atlantic coast, at Puerto Real in the province of Cadiz.
The first level of alert was activated at 5:15 p.m., just over two hours after the fire started, with flames spreading rapidly near homes that were evacuated, according to emergency services and the Infoca.
The number of firefighters mobilized is steadily increasing and more than five planes and helicopters were deployed by the end of the afternoon. Images posted on the Infoca Twitter (X) account show flames and a thick cloud of smoke rising from the Canteras pine forest. The area is located less than ten kilometers from the city of Cadiz, popular with tourists, but also from the Los Toruños natural park.
More than 1,000 ha affected
A first fire broke out in Bonares on Saturday afternoon. After a night of fierce fighting, the Infoca indicated on Sunday morning on Twitter (X) that the fire was “stabilized”, thus raising the state of alert for the inhabitants, who were able to return to their homes. More than 150 firefighters and 17 air resources were mobilized.
Antonio Sanz, in charge of the interior department of the Andalusian government, indicated that the affected area was 450 hectares but that it would be necessary to wait for a satellite analysis to determine the exact burned area, in an interview broadcast by Spanish public television.
This first assessment brings to more than 1,000 hectares the areas affected over the past three days by fires in Spain.
Stabilization in Catalonia
Nearly 600 hectares have burned since the outbreak of a fire on Friday on the Mediterranean coast, south of the border town with France of Portbou. The fire was stabilized on Saturday evening, allowing the deconfinement of the villages concerned and the resumption of rail traffic in this very touristic region. In total, more than 300 Catalan and French firefighters were mobilized.
Josep LAGO/AFP
The perimeter affected remained stable throughout the day on Sunday, but the wind prevented the aerial means from deploying in the afternoon, said the Catalan firefighters, adding that the recoveries had however been quickly stabilized.
According to the latest weather forecasts, the wind should strengthen overnight and dozens of firefighters remain mobilized.
