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Strong winds, high temperatures fuel uncontrolled Spanish wildfire

Wildfires
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Unfavourable weather conditions are hampering Spanish firefighters’ efforts to tame a wildfire in the southern region of Andalusia on Friday, which has forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people and killed one emergency worker.

Since erupting on Wednesday evening, the fire has burned through around 3,600 hectares of forest in the mountainous Sierra Bermeja in the Estepona region that is popular with British tourists and retirees.

A spokesperson for the regional fire brigade said authorities were planning to bring in two more planes and a Kamov helicopter, bringing the total aircraft deployed up to 69.

He added they did not expect to bring the flames under control until Saturday.

Just over 1,000 people have been evacuated from four communities in Estepona and one in neighbouring Benahavis.

The spokesperson said no further communities were at risk from the fire if the prevailing conditions continue.

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