Spain battles forest fire a short drive from flash flood
The blaze, near Valencia, forced more than 1,000 people from their homes. In nearby Catalonia, civil defense teams carried out 200 rescue operations after floods trapped residents in cars and homes.
A forest fire erupted in eastern Spain on Saturday, prompting the evacuation of approximately 1,000 residents. This blaze is among numerous fires across Europe, exacerbated by record-high temperatures along the Mediterranean and beyond. The fire is located near Gatova, a village with around 450 inhabitants northwest of Valencia. Footage revealed the flames approaching built-up areas. Military Emergency Unit UME in Spain captured footage of firefighters battling the flames in the night.
The fire is believed to have started due to a lightning strike the previous Thursday. By Friday evening, it had scorched over 400 hectares of land. Juan Carlos Valderrama, Valencia's civil protection minister, announced that buses stood ready to transport residents lacking personal vehicles.
Further north, along Spain's Costa Dorada, heavy rain triggered flash floods, causing two walls to collapse and trapping at least seven individuals. Roads in coastal towns like El Vendrell, Coma-ruga, and Torredembarra were partially submerged. The Catalan Meteorological Service warned of more rainfall for the region. Officials stated that firefighters conducted over 200 rescue missions, saving people trapped in vehicles and buildings.
Three individuals were injured when a wall fell at the port of Roda de Bera, about 45 miles southwest of Barcelona. Additionally, two others were hurt due to a wall collapse near a campsite, where around 300 people sought refuge, many at a nearby sports center.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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