Approximately 50,000 people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure around Girona due to forest fires that broke out in Spain's Catalonia Autonomous Region. The fires, which spread rapidly over a large area due to strong winds, have not yet been brought under control, and the Spanish Military Emergency Unit has been deployed to support firefighting efforts.

The fires, which started in La Bisbal d'Emporda in the morning, later spread to the districts of Vilademuls and Bescano, affecting approximately 10 settlements.

Fire Spreads Over a Wide Area

Catalan autonomous government officials announced that the fires are affecting a forested area exceeding 350 square kilometers and that firefighting efforts are continuing without interruption.

Officials also urged citizens to postpone non-essential travel from Barcelona towards Girona due to the fires.

10,000 Hectares Under Threat

The Civil Protection agency reported that approximately 50,000 people have been evacuated from their homes or workplaces as a precautionary measure due to the fires.

Rural Area Teams announced that approximately 750 hectares have burned so far, but due to current conditions, a total of 10,000 hectares are at risk of being reduced to ashes.

Ferran Garcia, Operations Chief of Girona Fire Department, said, "The fire has exceeded our firefighting capacity. The flames spread very quickly and are expected to continue advancing for a long time."

Safety Warning for Citizens

Some highways have been closed to traffic due to the forest fires, and officials have asked citizens not to go outside unless necessary and to keep their windows closed to avoid being affected by the dense smoke. Image: © AA