Massive inferno spreading to Doñana forces evacuation of 2,000 people
Monday, June 26, 2017 @ 12:54 PM
OVER 2,000 residents have been evacuated as a major inferno sweeps across the province of Huelva, threatening the Doñana National Park.
Two holiday parks, the Parador Nacional State-run hotel and the El Arenosillo Army barracks have all been emptied and their occupants forced to flee for their own safety.
Regional president of Andalucía, Susana Díaz, says she suspects 'the human factor' is behind the blaze, or that it is the work of arsonists.
High temperatures and winds of over 60 kilometres per hour mean the fire is out of control and emergency services say the next few hours will be 'critical'.
The inferno broke out at around 21.30 last night (Saturday) in the rural La Peñuela area close to the town of Moguer and has already crept across the Doñana border.
Firefighters say they have managed to get the flames surrounded and expect a wind change that could help stop it spreading further.
The flames have been extending in a long line, fuelled by a north wind, and by this morning had travelled over 12 kilometres in less than five hours.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com