Forest fire in Spanish border town – several evacuated

Forest fire in Spanish border town several evacuated
full screen A Spanish forest fire in July this year. Archive image. Photo: UME/AP/TT

An extensive forest fire is spreading south of the Spanish town of Portbou, which borders France.

Over 130 people have been evacuated from the area during the night to Saturday.

The rescue service in the northeastern region of Catalonia is working with French colleagues to put out the fires that are raging in an area of ​​about 435 hectares.

Around 2,500 hectares are estimated to be at risk.

Strong winds have helped the fire to spread faster and also made it difficult to fight the fire from the air.

About 4,000 people in the area are without power and train services between Portbou and the town of Figueres, about 3 miles to the south, have been stopped.

The main road into Portbou and to the French border is also closed.

Catalan forest rangers write on X, formerly Twitter, that they are investigating the cause of the fire.

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