THOUSANDS of tourists and locals have been evacuated from a Spanish resort holiday spot to escape a raging wildfire.
More than 2,000 people rushed to safety from the hotels and beaches in the town of Tarifa, Cadiz, southern Spain, as smoke erupted from the dry fields and forests nearby.
EPAAnother wildfire have hit the area of Tarifa, Cadiz[/caption]
INFOCAThis aerial shot shows smoke rising from a vast area[/caption]
Huge clouds of choking black smoke sprang from the landscape – and left people in the area terrified.
The evacuation order was sounded at around 2:20pm on Monday afternoon.
One holidaymaker said: “Going down to the beach was the only solution.
“At first, it was a little smoky in the morning.
“At lunchtime, around three or four, we saw the smoke intensifying and that a lot of helicopters and firefighters were coming.”
Along with dozens of neighbours, he made a beeline for the coast.
He said: “The smoke was intensifying and getting closer.
“We saw flames coming down from the top of the mountain and that the easterly wind was intensifying. We were scared.”
The smoke was so dense that at times the evacuated houses were obscured from the shoreline.
Another tourist said: “Right on the beach, the smoke was suffocating us.”
Most of the crowds were ushered along the shore towards the village of Zahara de los Atunes.
A sports centre was being refitted as an emergency refuge for the evacuees.
Antonio Sanz, the Interior Minister, urged anyone staying behind the stay inside and close their windows, because the smoke is “very harmful” and makes it difficult to breathe.
He said: “At the moment, the main concern is on the right side towards the scrub forest area.
He reassured that all resources were being channelled into preventing further damage.
Less than a week ago another fire in the nearby La Pena area forced the evacuation of thousands from campsites, hotels and the beaches.
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