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Spain eases lockdowns as firefighters stabilize Catalonia forest blaze

12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

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Spanish authorities have lifted lockdown restrictions for thousands of residents in northeastern Catalonia as firefighters gain control over a forest fire that has ravaged the area for three days.

The wildfire, which ignited on Monday, has scorched over 3,300 hectares (8,154 acres) in Tarragona province. Nearly one-third of the affected area lies within the protected Els Ports natural park, according to Catalan countryside rangers.

While the stay-at-home order for approximately 18,000 people was lifted, restrictions remain partially in place for the municipality of Pauls, where residents are permitted to go outside but cannot leave the locality, the Catalan civil protection authority announced on X.

The Catalonia fire service confirmed the blaze has been “stabilized” but warned of hotspots in cliffs and other hard-to-reach areas. Firefighting efforts continue with ground crews, helicopters, and planes working to contain the remaining threats.

The fire follows Spain’s recent heatwave, which left the land exceptionally dry. The national weather agency AEMET reported that June 2023 was the hottest June in the country’s recorded history. Scientists attribute the growing intensity and frequency of wildfires to human-induced climate change, exacerbated by extreme heat conditions.

Spain has already witnessed significant wildfire activity this year, with nearly 21,000 hectares burned so far. In 2022, the country endured a devastating year, with 500 wildfires consuming 300,000 hectares, marking a record for the European continent, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.