A forest fire broke out at midday on Sunday in the town of Tàrbena. Located in the Marina Baixa near Alicante, in Spain. The flames quickly spread towards the mountain, threatening the neighbouring towns of Xaló, Parcent and Alcalalí. The fire destroyed around 800 hectares of woodland in the Serra del Ferrer.
Evacuation and forest fire-fighting efforts
The rapid spread of the flames forced the evacuation of around 180 residents from Tàrbena and Parcent. They found refuge in alternative accommodation, and the Alicante Red Cross set up a shelter with capacity for 50 people at the Maison de la Culture. To tackle the blaze, 200 firefighters, supported by aerial resources, were deployed.
The fire has led to the closure of the road linking Tàrbena to Parcent. The authorities are continuing to monitor the spread of the flames and to coordinate rescue operations to ensure the safety of people and property in the affected areas.