United kingdom Daily news: Spain forest fires: Holidaymakers evacuated as forest fires engulf city of Valencia

Senin, 02 Juli 2012

Spain forest fires: Holidaymakers evacuated as forest fires engulf city of Valencia

Spain forest fires: Holidaymakers evacuated as forest fires engulf city of Valencia

By Lauren Stopps

PUBLISHED: 07:09 EST, 2 July 2012 | UPDATED: 07:19 EST, 2 July 2012

At least three thousand people have been evacuated from the popular tourist area of Valencia as the worst forest fires for more than a decade scorch Eastern Spain.

Civilians and tourists were forced to leave the area as clouds of smoke and ash engulfed the city.

Up to 45,000 hectares of land may have already been destroyed by the two uncontrollable forest fires along the Eastern coast not far from Valencia.

A helicopter drops water over a wildfire spreading through the hills in Yatova, near Valencia

Inferno: Wild fires are still raging in the Valencia area

The first fire in Cortes de Palla in Valencia was sparked during work to fit solar panels on homes in the area, whilst a second fire broke out in Andilla on Saturday.

The cityâ€™s airport remains open and the emergency services said the majority of people in the Valencia region were not at risk.

Nasa has released images showing world-renowned beaches submerged in dark clouds of smoke.

Firemen try to control and extinguish a wildfire in Turis, near Valencia

Battling the blaze: Firemen are working around the clock to tackle the flames

Spain's tourism sector represents around 10 percent of the country's economic output yet it is not yet known how tourists will be affected.

The news only serves to add to the distress of a country that has already had to tackle 10 big forest fires this year, and which saw 50,000 hectares of land destroyed in the first five months of this year.

High temperatures of almost 40 degrees Celsius were experienced in the week leading up to the fire in many parts of the country, putting authorities on maximum alert for forest fires.