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Spain remains cautiously optimistic as Andalusia wildfire continues to burn

17:30

By: Sahili Aya

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Authorities in southern Spain expressed cautious optimism on Sunday as firefighters continued battling a large wildfire in Andalusia that has already affected an estimated 8,000 hectares.

The fire, which remains active near Niebla in the province of Huelva, has prompted the precautionary evacuation of around 470 people. Officials stressed that the figure represents the area affected by the blaze and does not mean that the entire surface has been burned.

More than 500 people deployed

Andalusian emergency services are maintaining a major response operation as crews work to contain the advancing flames.

More than 500 personnel are involved in the effort, including around 250 members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME). They are supported by more than 20 aircraft and a fleet of heavy machinery being used to establish containment lines and protect threatened areas.

Antonio Sanz, the Andalusian official responsible for emergency management, said teams still faced a demanding day but that the situation appeared somewhat more encouraging than previously.

"There is still work to do and a difficult day ahead," Sanz said at the scene, while noting that authorities were becoming more optimistic about the fire's evolution.

Evacuations remain a precautionary measure

The evacuation near Niebla was ordered as a preventive measure as the fire spread through the surrounding area. The town lies roughly 70 kilometres from Spain's southern border with Portugal, placing the incident in a region where wildfire risks can quickly affect large rural areas.

Although the fire has travelled across approximately 8,000 hectares, authorities emphasized that not every hectare within the affected area has actually burned.

Firefighters are continuing aerial and ground operations to prevent the flames from spreading further and to consolidate areas already brought under control.

The continuing deployment of military personnel, aircraft and heavy equipment reflects the scale of the response as authorities seek to take advantage of improving conditions while remaining alert to the possibility of renewed fire activity.