Spanish wildfire scorches 4,000 hectares in southwest Spain

A wildfire raging in the southern Spanish province of Huelva has consumed an estimated 4,000 hectares, with authorities struggling against challenging conditions. The blaze, which ignited near the town of Niebla, about 70 kilometers from the Portuguese border, is being fanned by strong winds gusting between 40 and 50 km/h.

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The area affected by the fire now exceeds 4,000 hectares, not all of which is yet burned.

"This fire is subject to constant changes in wind direction, which thwarts our attack strategy," said Antonio Sanz, a regional official for emergency situations. He noted that a brief "window of opportunity" was expected to emerge for firefighters before conditions worsened again later in the afternoon.

Currently, the fire has not impacted any residential areas, and only about 70 people were preemptively evacuated. Most did not require public shelter. More than 275 firefighters, including 60 from the Military Emergencies Unit (UME), are engaged in combating the flames. They are supported by approximately 20 aerial units and numerous heavy vehicles.

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This fire is subject to constant changes in wind direction, which thwarts our attack strategy.

Spain has experienced a difficult start to the summer, with several wildfires forcing thousands to evacuate. The Burgohondo fire in Ávila province in late July, which burned around 50,000 hectares, is considered one of the most significant in recent Spanish history. Earlier in July, a devastating fire in Almería province resulted in 14 fatalities.

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a certain window of opportunity