Huelva, Spain, Aug 9 (V7N) – A wildfire in the Andalusian province of Huelva, southwestern Spain, remained active on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of 470 locals as a precaution, authorities said.
The blaze, burning near the town of Niebla—about 70 kilometers from the Portuguese border—has so far affected some 8,000 hectares, though not all have been burnt. Authorities expressed cautious optimism. "The fire remains complex. We still have work to do and a tough day ahead, involving a great deal of intervention, but today we are somewhat more optimistic," said Andalucia's minister for emergencies, Antonio Sanz.
Around 500 firefighters, aided by waterbombing aircraft, have been deployed to keep the fire at bay.
Spain is enduring a tough summer for wildfires, with around three dozen blazes forcing thousands to evacuate, especially in central regions. One fire in July in the Avila region near Madrid was considered the largest in recent Spanish history, destroying some 50,000 hectares. Early in July, another blaze in Andalusia's Almeria province claimed 14 lives.
Europe has suffered a succession of heatwaves and drought this year, which scientists say have been aggravated by human-generated climate change.
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