More than 2,000 people have been evacuated following the outbreak of a devastating forest fire in Tarifa.
Scores of people were led away from beaches, hotels, and homes around Atlanterra on Monday after the blaze broke out at around 2.20pm in the Sierra de la Plata, near Cueva del Moro.
Andalucia minister Antonio Sanz said authorities are working flat-out to stop the fire from spreading into tourist and residential zones.
The scale of the inferno forced evacuations at hotels including the Melia and the Cortijo, as well as residential areas in Atlanterra and along Los Alemanes beach.
The emergency, Sanz said, was particularly tough to manage given the limited exit routes, but strong support from the Guardia Civil, local police, and Civil Protection helped get people out swiftly.
In an update at 10pm he said: ‘The homes and hotels in Atlanterra and Los Alemanes have been saved.
‘The fire stopped at their doorstep, and the evacuation was carried out in record time.
‘Efforts are now focused on the forest area, with 14 air units and more than 100 firefighters.’
Residents as far away as Zahara de los Atunes were ordered to stay indoors and keep their windows shut amid heavy smoke.
The Regional Government has elevated the Emergency Plan to Operational Level 1. In the air, 14 aircraft -ranging from heavy and medium helicopters to amphibious planes and a coordination unit – are attacking the left flank to shield inhabited areas.
On the ground, reinforcement brigades, forest firefighters, operations technicians, environmental officers, the Regional Command Group, and the Provincial Fire Consortium are all working the right flank to prevent the fire from advancing into wooded terrain.
Sanz warned the wind has nearly doubled in strength beyond forecasts, making the blaze more aggressive and fast-moving than expected.
‘We hope to contain it before it reaches Atlanterra,’ he said. ‘But the next few hours remain intense and dangerous.’
