MADRID, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire that broke out Tuesday afternoon near a campsite in Tarifa, a popular tourist destination in southwestern Spain, continues to burn and has forced the evacuation of over 1,500 people from hotels, campsites, and beach bars.
Antonio Sanz, minister of the Andalusian Regional Government, said 17 aircraft and helicopters supported 11 firefighting units overnight, with additional reinforcements on the way.
The fire reportedly started in a motorhome parked near a hedge at the campsite. Strong winds and extreme heat quickly spread the flames to nearby dry, wooded areas. While the blaze has been brought under control on one side of the highway, it continues to advance southward, posing a threat to additional tourist infrastructure.
Five hotels have been evacuated. A nine-kilometer stretch of highway, which was closed Tuesday due to thick smoke, has reopened, though access to nearby accommodations remains restricted.
Spain remains under a red alert as a heatwave continues, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many areas. In addition to the fire in Tarifa, two other wildfires remain active in the country's northwest. ■
