More than 170 soldiers have been dispatched to assist in the evacuation of a popular vacation destination following a massive wildfire that swept through two villages in southeastern Spain, creating a 65ft high wall of flames.
Nearly 200 individuals have been relocated after a forest fire ravaged the villages in Murcia, situated near the southern Costa Blanca close to Benidorm and Alicante.
Yesterday evening, approximately 170 soldiers from the Army’s specialized UME unit were mobilized to aid firefighters and other emergency responders combating the blaze both on the ground and from the air.
The alarm was raised by hikers on the nearby Cresta Del Gallo mountain ridge around 3 pm yesterday, as they observed fires breaking out in a nearby national park.
The fire quickly spread across the Murcia region, prompting over 200 distressed locals to contact emergency services for assistance.
Shocking footage captured terrified tourists and residents fleeing from the towering inferno, which rapidly gained strength as it devoured everything in its path.
A combined force of over 300 firefighters, emergency personnel, and soldiers was deployed to battle the fire, with planes and helicopters conducting water drops to contain the flames.
The wildfire, which has so far scorched more than 270 hectares of land, resulted in one individual receiving treatment for burns.
Authorities made a startling revelation suggesting the possibility of arson as the cause of the fire, stating that “initial investigations indicate the fire may have been deliberately set.”
The mayor of Murcia, Rebeca Perez, expressed gratitude for the tireless efforts of emergency services in combating the fire “around the clock” and extended support to the affected residents.
The forest fire in Los Garres is currently under control with no active flames as of Wednesday morning, although there are some remaining hot spots that pose no immediate threat, as stated by emergency services.
Individuals who voluntarily evacuated their homes prior to official orders shared their harrowing experiences, describing a sky filled with smoke and flames reaching extraordinary heights due to the lush vegetation that fueled the rapid spread of the fire.
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