A forest fire on the border between France and Spain has spread dangerously. 140 people were brought to safety during the night. Due to strong winds, no fire-fighting aircraft can be used.
Almost 140 people have been brought to safety because of a forest fire in Catalonia in northeastern Spain. The evacuations during the night included a campsite in the Garbet area, not far from Portbou and the French border, according to the region’s fire department and civil defense. A curfew was imposed on the village of Colera and a campsite with around 700 guests.
The Catalan civil defense reported that around 4,000 people had no power supply on Saturday morning because of the fire.
435 hectares affected
The fire broke out late Friday afternoon in the south of the Spanish border town of Portbou, an area very popular with tourists. According to the Catalan Forest Service, around 435 hectares were affected by the forest fire as of 9 a.m. on Saturday.
The train service between Figueres and Portbou was temporarily suspended. The coastal road between Portbou and the French border was also closed.
Spanish and French forces in action
The fire was still active on Saturday and was fought by 66 fire brigade units supported by emergency services from France, it said. Because of the strong winds, no fire-fighting aircraft could be used. The mountainous terrain made access to the flames difficult for firefighters.
The main focus is on preventing its expansion to the south, the Catalan regional government explained on its website. The cause of the fire is still being determined, the forestry department said on the online network “X”, which was formerly known as Twitter.