More than 170 troops have been dispatched to rescue a popular vacation spot following a massive wildfire that created a 65-foot wall of flames engulfing two villages in southeastern Spain.
Nearly 200 individuals have been evacuated due to a forest fire that tore through the villages in Murcia, close to the southern Costa Blanca near Benidorm and Alicante.
Yesterday evening, approximately 170 soldiers from the Army’s specialized UME unit were called in to assist firefighters and other emergency personnel combating the fire both on the ground and from the air.
Hikers on the nearby Cresta Del Gallo mountain ridge raised the alarm at 3pm yesterday after observing fires erupting in a nearby national park.
The fire quickly spread across the Murcia region, prompting distressed locals to make more than 200 calls to emergency services.
Videos from the scene depict frightened tourists and residents fleeing from the towering inferno, which rapidly intensified, consuming everything in its path.
Over 300 firefighters, emergency responders, and soldiers were mobilized to combat the blaze, with planes and helicopters flying above to douse the flames with water.
The fire, which has charred over 270 hectares of land so far, has resulted in one person being treated for burns.
In a startling revelation, emergency services suggested the possibility that the fire may have been deliberately started by an arsonist, stating that “initial theories indicate the fire was set intentionally.”
The Mayor of Murcia, Rebeca Perez, stated that emergency services had been working tirelessly through the night to battle the fire “without a break.”
“To all residents of Los Garres and the affected areas, we extend our sympathy and support after a particularly challenging day,” she expressed.
“The fire in Los Garres is still active. Today, we bolstered firefighting efforts by gradually introducing aerial resources, as the Regional Government of Murcia (CARM), the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and emergency services continue their ground operations.”
One local resident, who voluntarily left their home before being instructed to evacuate, remarked earlier, “The entire sky is gray. You can see the smoke from here, and it’s still burning.”
Another individual mentioned, “Many residential areas were dangerously close to the fire. I’m talking about a street only 13 feet wide facing a 65-foot high wall of flames.”
“Due to the heavy rainfall in Murcia and across Spain, the area was still green until a month ago, and there wasn’t enough time to clear it. The undergrowth burned dramatically.”
As of Wednesday morning, the forest fire is reported to be “without active flames” with some “hot spots” that pose “no risk,” according to emergency services.
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