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Firefighters managed to stabilize a wildfire that ravaged large swathes of eastern Spain on Sunday, allowing officials to lift all remaining evacuation orders.
The fire, which started on Monday near Beggis in Valencia’s eastern region, has destroyed more than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) and prompted the evacuation of about 2,200 people.
Regional Interior Minister Gabriela Bravo told reporters that Sunday’s reconnaissance flight showed it “no longer had any active fronts” – and could be considered “stable”.
Firefighters said reduced winds, cooler nighttime temperatures and higher humidity levels allowed them to control the blaze.
But Bravo warned that temperatures were still expected to remain high on Monday and strong winds could reignite the fires.
Earlier on Sunday, Valencia regional president Ximo Puig said all remaining evacuees could return home.
“It’s time to get back to normal, be cautious,” he said.
On Saturday, local officials had lifted evacuation orders for the villages of Beggis and Trust as the threat of the fires had subsided.
About 20 planes were deployed to fight the blaze on Sunday, up from 42 the day before.
Another blaze that started Saturday about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Vall de Ebo was brought under control on Sunday, Puig said.
It destroyed about 12,000 hectares of woods, shrubs and farmland.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will tour the fire damage with Puig on Monday, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
The blazes are one of nearly 400 fires that have erupted in Spain so far this year, with a series of harsh heatwaves and prolonged droughts that have destroyed more than 283,000 hectares, more than triple the total area destroyed in 2021.
Areas in neighbouring Portugal were similarly devastated.
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