It took Spanish firefighters several dozen hours to control a large vegetation fire on the island of Mallorca. Firefighting operations were hampered by strong winds that spread the flames. During the weekend, evacuation instructions were issued for some residents of the threatened areas.
The fire broke out in the forest near the city of Andratx in the north-west of Mallorca on the night of Saturday to Sunday. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, but the most likely scenario is an electrical shock. It hasn't rained in the island for the last few days, which made the bedding very dry.
Due to the strong wind, the element spreads very quickly. Local services reported that at least 60 hectares of vegetation were burned. Some residents were also evacuated and were able to return to their homes only on Monday.
Complex fire fighting operations
According to local media, several fire engines, at least 35 fire brigade members and environmental protection experts took part in extinguishing the fire. The operation took place mainly on the ground, as strong winds drove the air units to the ground.
– We work day and night, we cannot use flying equipment because of the wind. The work was difficult because it is very unstable, rocky and very uneven, said Xim Joy, a technician from the Balearic Institute of Nature (IBANAT).
The fire was finally brought under control around noon on Monday. The council of Andratx also allowed evacuated residents to return to their homes.
Dangerous weather in the Iberian Peninsula
Difficult weather conditions are not only happening in the south of Spain. On Saturday, dangerous strong winds occurred in Catalonia, in the north-east of the country. In the town of Cornella de Lobregat, a storm knocked down a tree that fell on a woman. The victim was transferred to the hospital in serious condition. Snowstorms also hit parts of Spain over the weekend. The northern part of the country has been warned of snow and strong winds, and in places, including the Pyrenees, a warning of level three, the highest, is in place.
Infobae, Enex, Balearic Chronicle, Breaking News
Main photo source: Enex News
