Spain Deploys 275 Firefighters to Battle Andalusia Blaze

More than 275 firefighters were battling a wildfire in Spain’s southern Andalusia region on Saturday, as authorities said no residential areas were currently under threat.

The fire, burning north of Niebla between Seville and the Portuguese border, had spread across about 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres), according to Antonio Sanz, an adviser to Andalusia’s emergency service.

Sanz said shifting winds were making the firefighting operation difficult by repeatedly changing the direction of the blaze and forcing crews to adjust their tactics.

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“This wildfire is driven by constantly changing winds, which up-ends attack strategies,” he told reporters.

Spain Wildfire Destroys 12,000 Hectares
Spain Wildfire. Credit: AFP.

He said firefighters had a few hours of more favourable conditions on Saturday to contain the fire before stronger winds and worsening weather were expected later in the day.

The firefighting effort included 60 troops from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit, along with about 20 aircraft and heavy machinery, the regional fire service said.

Spain has experienced a severe wildfire season this summer, with several fires forcing thousands of people to evacuate, particularly in central parts of the country.

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A major wildfire in the Ávila region near Madrid in July was described as the largest Spain had experienced in recent history.

Earlier in July, another major fire in Andalusia’s Almería province killed 14 people.

The latest blaze comes as Europe continues to face repeated heatwaves and drought, conditions scientists say have been intensified by human-caused climate change.

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