Forest fire threatens Spain's Donana National Park, 2,000 evacuated

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-25 20:03:46|Editor: Song Lifang
Video PlayerClose

MADRID, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A forest fire which began late on Saturday close to the town of Moguer in the province of Huelva (south-west Spain) has forced the evacuation of an estimated 2,000 people from several hotels and two campsites in the region and the declaration of a 'Level One' emergency.

The Environment Spokesman for the regional government of Andalusia, Jose Gregorio Fiscal, told Spanish media that the flames have penetrated in the Donana National Park, which is one of the most important wetland reserves in Europe.

He explained that he "did not rule out," that the fire, which began at around 21:30 local time, had been started deliberately at a time when winds of up to 60 kilometers an hour and "high temperatures," had made it impossible to use aircraft to combat the flames.

Susana Diaz, the President of the Andalisian regional government also visited the area and said her administration would "get to the bottom of how such a big fire in an area as environmentally sensitive as the Donana National Park, where so many families live, was able to happen."

She also said the fire now presented no danger to human life and she was optimistic that by the end of Sunday the "news could be positive."

By Sunday morning the fire was being fought by a total of 70 firemen and 57 members of Spain's Military Emergency Response Unit (UME), with the help of 19 aircraft and helicopters.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001363936981