Wildfires in Spain continue for the fifth day, villagers flee their homes, climate change news

Spain sent an army to help extinguish the fire that raged near the Costa del Sol resort.

On Sunday, people fled their homes in six other Andalusian towns and villages because Spain sent an army to help extinguish the fire that raged near the Costa del Sol resort.

Since the outbreak of the mountainous Sierra Bermeja above Estepona on Wednesday, wildfires caused by strong winds have killed nearly 2,000 people and killed one first responder, a British tourist and retire Popular locations.

The huge smoke rising from the mountain can be seen from a few miles away. A video released by the emergency services showed firefighters trying to control the flames in dry, wooded terrain.

At a sports center in the nearby town of Ronda, evacuated elderly people sat around plastic tables. Volunteers brought bottled water, chairs and supplies.

Abraham Lopez, a computer scientist who was evacuated from Genalguacil’s home, said: “Telling you the truth is very fast and efficient, but we are a little nervous because we don’t know what will happen.”

On Sunday, emergency workers also evacuated people in the towns and villages of Jubrique, Farajan, Pujerra, Alpandeire, and Juzcar on the hills that caught fire in the late summer. On Friday, five other communities were evacuated.

Alejandro Garcia of the Forest Fire Prevention Agency Operations Center told reporters that the fire has “unusual strength and power” and is advancing in multiple directions.

The evacuated residents rested in the sports center due to a wildfire in the Sierra Bermeja mountain in Ronda near Estepona, Spain [Jon Nazca/Reuters]

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the deployment of a military emergency response team to help extinguish the fire. He said on Twitter: “Faced with the fire that is destroying the province of Málaga, we will work together without rest.”

The Ministry of Environment said in a statement that, based on temporary data from the European Commission’s Copernicus satellite, the fire covered an area of ​​more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres).

The Forest Fire Prevention Agency of Andalusia stated that 365 firefighters are extinguishing the fire with the support of 41 aircraft and 25 vehicles.

Regional environmental chief Carmen Crespo said on Friday that the fire appeared to have been deliberately triggered and investigators are working hard to find more details.