- Title: Villagers flee homes as Spanish wildfire rages again
- Date: 12th September 2021
- Summary: RONDA, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 12, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EVACUEES ARRIVING AT SPORTS CENTRE EVACUEES INSIDE SPORTS CENTRE AMBULANCE ARRIVING WITH EVACUEES EVACUEES GETTING OFF AMBULANCE AND WALKING TOWARDS SPORTS CENTRE EVACUEES AT SPORTS CENTRE EVACUEE GETTING OFF AMBULANCE EVACUEE ON WHEELCHAIR ARRIVING AT SPORTS CENTRE EVACUEE HOLDING CAT, JOURNALIST ASKING (Spanish) “Was it dangerous?†AND EVACUEES NODDING VARIOUS OF EVACUEES OUTSIDE SPORTS CENTRE
- Embargoed: 26th September 2021 18:32
- Keywords: Andalusia Ronda Spain evacuees wildfire
- Location: RONDA, JUBRIQUE AND ESTEPONA,SPAIN
- City: RONDA, JUBRIQUE AND ESTEPONA,SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Wildfires/Forest Fires
- Reuters ID: LVA001EUEZ4NB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: People fled their homes in six more Andalusian towns and villages on Sunday (September 12) as Spain sent in a military unit to help tackle blazes raging close to a Costa del Sol resort.
A wildfire fanned by strong winds has now driven out close to 3,000 people and killed one emergency worker since it erupted on Wednesday (September 8) in the mountainous Sierra Bermeja above Estepona, a popular spot with British tourists and retirees.
Huge plumes of smoke rising above the mountains could be seen from miles away. Footage released by emergency services showed firefighters trying to contain flames in the dry, wooded terrain.
Evacuees, some elderly, sat around plastic tables in a sports centre in the nearby town of Ronda, as volunteers brought in bottled water, chairs, and supplies.
Emergency crews also cleared people from the towns and villages of Jubrique, Farajan, Pujerra, Alpandeire, and Juzcar on Sunday in the hills where the fire is burning amid high late-summer temperatures.
Five other communities were evacuated on Friday (September 11).
The fire had an "unusual power and strength" and was advancing in several directions, Alejandro Garcia from the forest fire agency's operational centre told reporters.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the deployment of a Military Emergency Unit to help tackle the blaze. "We will work in coordination and without rest in the face of the fire that is devastating the province of Malaga," he said on Twitter.
The fire covered more than 6,000 hectares according to provisional data from the European Commission's Copernicus satellite, the environment ministry said in a statement.
Andalusia's regional forest fire agency said 365 firefighters were tackling the blaze supported by 41 aircraft and 25 vehicles.
Regional environment chief Carmen Crespo said on Friday the blaze appeared to have been started deliberately and investigators were working to uncover more details.
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