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ARCHIVED - Military called in to control raging Malaga wildfire
Hundreds of Andalucía firefighters have been battling the fire since Wednesday
The forest fire which started last Wednesday September 8 in Sierra Bermeja in Málaga has continued to burn through trees and shrubland over the weekend, with the flames forcing six villages to be evacuated.
Over 7,400 hectares have now been destroyed by the blaze; 4,000 more since Friday morning, and the fire shows no sign of slowing down. The wildfire almost doubled its size in just one day and has increased from a 42-km perimeter on Saturday September 11 to a 85-km perimeter on Monday September 13.
Firefighters from Andalucía were joined by the Military Emergency Unit (UME) over the weekend, after regional authorities asked the central government for help.
On Saturday, the villages of Jubrique, Genalguacil, Faraján, Pujerra, Alpandeire and Júcar were evacuated; around 2,000 residents in total. The flames and smoke also forced the closure of several stretches of roads in the west of the province.
🔴 #IFJubrique, nuevo incendio ACTIVO.
— INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) September 12, 2021
Medios terrestres del #INFOCA trabajan intensamente en duras condiciones intentando parar en avance de las llamas.
📍Por tierra: Más de 365 efectivos y 25 vehículos pesados.
📍Por aire: 41 aeronaves. pic.twitter.com/V7ZlDmwPhn
However, residents who were evacuated from Estepona and Benahavís on Thursday September 9, were allowed to return to their homes, as the south-east front of the wildfire was declared stabilised.
Firefighters and authorities in Málaga have now pinned their hopes on the weather forecast for Monday September 13 and Tuesday September 14, as rain is expected across much of Spain over the next few days and an increase in humidity is also forecast, which will further aid the emergency service workers.
Images: Emergencias Andalucía and Plan INFOCA
