More than 170 soldiers have been mobilised to evacuate a popular holiday destination after a wildfire created a towering 65-foot wall of flames that engulfed two villages in south-eastern Spain. Nearly 200 people have been forced to leave their homes as the forest fire tore through communities in the Murcia region, a short distance from the southern Costa Blanca near Benidorm and Alicante.
On Tuesday evening, approximately 170 soldiers from the Army's specialist UME unit were called in to assist firefighters and other emergency responders battling the blaze from both ground and air. The alarm was raised around 3pm local time when hikers on the nearby mountain ridge of Cresta Del Gallo spotted flames erupting in a national park. The fire rapidly spread across Murcia, prompting panicked residents to make over 200 calls to emergency services.
Evacuations and Response
Footage from the scene shows terrified tourists and locals fleeing from the towering inferno, which gained momentum as it consumed everything in its path. Over 300 firefighters, emergency services personnel, and soldiers were deployed to tackle the blaze, supported by planes and helicopters dropping water from above. The fire has so far burned more than 270 hectares of land, and one person has been treated for burns.
Suspected Arson
In a shocking statement, emergency services revealed that the blaze may have been deliberately started. They said, "Initial hypotheses suggest the fire was intentionally set." Murcia mayor Rebeca Perez confirmed that emergency services had been working tirelessly overnight "without rest." She expressed support for residents, saying, "To all the residents of Los Garres and the affected areas, we want to convey our affection and support after a particularly difficult day."
Mayor Perez added, "The fire in Los Garres remains active. This morning we reinforced firefighting efforts with the gradual addition of aerial resources, while the Regional Government of Murcia (CARM), the Military Emergency Unit (UME), and emergency services continue working on the ground."
Witness Accounts
One local, who voluntarily evacuated before being ordered to leave, described the scene: "The whole sky is grey. You can see the smoke from here and it’s still burning." Another resident noted how close the flames came to residential areas: "There are many residential areas that came very, very close to the fire. I’m talking about a street 13 feet wide and a flame front 65 feet high." They attributed the intensity to recent rains: "Because it has rained so much in Murcia and throughout Spain, until a month ago the area was still green and there hasn't been time to clear it. That undergrowth burned spectacularly."
As of Wednesday morning, emergency services reported that the forest fire is "without active flames" and has "hot spots" that pose "no risk." This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
