Large amounts of smoke settled over parts of the holiday destination Malaga on Friday as a result of a forest fire. Large resources have been invested to control the fire.
Updated less than 20 minutes ago
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The fire started on Friday afternoon and spread quickly due to strong winds. Around 800 hectares are covered, according to the Spanish local newspaper Málaga Hoy.
People living near the fire, who fled with their pets, have been reported. A total of around 2300 people have now been evacuated in the areas of Alhaurín de la Torre and Alhaurín el Grande.
The Red Cross has turned a sports hall into a reception with around 200 beds in case it is needed.
More than a hundred firefighters and 15 air units have been deployed to deal with the flames. In addition, a total of 15 different helicopters and aircraft have been sent out.
The A-404 motorway was closed as a result of the fire.
Ate up the ridge
Bjørn-Tore Løvtangen was in the pool in Fuengirola when the neighbor on the roof terrace started shouting that it was burning a couple of kilometers up the mountainside. At first they only saw a little smoke and flames, but it spread quickly.
– We could see the fire only ate up the ridge, he told VG just before 4 pm on Friday.
There were at least two firefighting turns and several helicopters, according to Løvtangen, who says he has a background in rescue work. The planes and helicopters flew over their house to fetch water down by the sea.
While VG was talking to Løvtangen, he made several minor outbursts while observing the fire.
– Oh, that takes it properly. Now I see open flames, he said.
Spreads quickly
Tanja Johnsen was in the area with her 10-year-old daughter.
– We are on the beach, and we were out bathing when we saw something that looked like a small fire. Half an hour later, it had spread all over the hillside there, Johnsen told VG at 15.30 on Friday.
She estimated that she was 5-6 kilometers away. Her apartment is not too far from the fire, but it looked like the fire was going in the other direction. Johnsen thus hoped that the property would not be affected.
In addition to the fire, they were afraid of being hit by the SAS strike.
– I’m just been to the beach. Well, first of all, we do not know if we will get home on Sunday. So with planes, and fire and all that, we have chosen to just try to take it easy, says Johnsen.
– You are safe on the beach right by the water, she says.
–Heat wave over Europe
A heat wave is currently sweeping across southern Europe. A total of at least 17 forest fires have been reported across the country, according to Reuters. Forest fires were also reported in France and Portugal on Friday.
More than 1,000 firefighters have been battling the blaze in two different forest fires in southwestern France in recent days. Strong winds have made the rescue work more difficult.
In Portugal it has been over 40 degrees. More than 1,000 fire personnel are working to put out at least 17 forest fires of varying sizes.
The worst drought in over 70 years means that Italy’s longest river, Po, barely flows in some places, according to Reuters.
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