More than 3,000 people were brought to safety in Spain on Thursday night because of a forest fire in the tourist stronghold of the Costa del Sol. The flames that broke out on Wednesday afternoon for reasons that are still unknown primarily threatened the 8,000-inhabitant community of Benahavis and the 300-inhabitant village of Pujerra around a hundred kilometers west of Málaga in southern Spain on Thursday, according to the state television broadcaster RTVE, citing regional politicians and Fire department spokesman reported.
Three firefighters were injured. It was initially not known whether tourists were affected by the evacuations.
The heat of more than 30 degrees, the drought and strong winds continued to make extinguishing work in the difficult-to-access area difficult on Thursday, it said. However, an improvement in the situation with weaker winds is expected in the course of the day.
Heat build-up impedes use
Around 500 members of the fire brigade, civil defense and the military emergency aid unit UME were deployed, as the emergency service of the Andalusia region announced on Twitter. An airplane and several helicopters are also in use – but their use is made more difficult by high air temperatures. According to official information, buildings were not initially affected.
The residents of the Sierra Bermeja have now experienced “a difficult night” again, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on Twitter. The socialist politician expressed his solidarity with those affected.
