Beachfront hotels and residential area forced to evacuate due to Zahara fire: "Coasting down towards the shore"
In the coastal town of Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain, a wildfire has sparked evacuations affecting thousands of residents and tourists. The affected areas include Urbanization Atlanterra, Meliá Zahara hotel, Cortijo hotel, and various other locations such as Playa de Atlanterra, Playa de Bolonia, Montaña de Los Alemanes, and zones at the foot of the Sierra de la Plata[1][2][4].
The fire, originating from the Sierra de la Plata mountains, has led to the evacuation of homes, hotels, campsites, and beaches. Notable among the evacuated areas is Atlanterra, where the advancing fire has impacted several hotels, including Meliá Zahara and Cortijo hotels, as well as local residences[1][2][3].
Precautionary measures have also been taken to evacuate the Montaña de Los Alemanes area and some housing developments in Zahara de los Atunes. The Miguel de Cervantes sports centre in Zahara de los Atunes has been transformed into a temporary shelter and information point, accommodating up to 800 evacuees during the emergency response[2][4].
Emergency services, including the Red Cross, Civil Protection, and local police, have been coordinating the evacuation and firefighting efforts. The Civil Guard has advised evacuees to leave through the beach as the road is congested[5].
The emergency was immediately put into motion upon receiving the first call about the fire, activating Infoca personnel, the Andalusia Emergency Group, the Civil Guard, the Firefighters, the Local Police, and the Police Unit attached to the Autonomous Community[6]. On the ground, there are four Bricas, eight forest firefighting groups, five water trucks, four operations technicians, one extinction technician, four environmental agents, two Investigation Brigades, the Regional Command Group, a Forest Fire Analysis and Monitoring Unit (UNASIF), and a Mobile Meteorology and Transmissions Unit (UMMT)[7].
In the air, 14 aerial means are currently deployed, including three medium helicopters, two heavy helicopters, one light helicopter, two light amphibious aircraft, one heavy ground cargo aircraft, four ground cargo aircraft, and one coordination aircraft[8]. The Presidency and Interior Council has activated operational situation 1 of the Andalusia Forest Fire Emergency Plan (Plan Infoca) due to the fire in the Sierra de la Plata area in Tarifa (Cádiz)[9].
Wind gusts of between 45 and 50 kilometers per hour are complicating the extinction of the fire in a mountainous area[10]. Preventive relocation has been carried out for urbanizations Montaña de Los Alemanes and those located at the foot of the Sierra de la Plata[6]. The authorities maintain road access restrictions near Atlanterra and emphasize caution and adherence to official instructions amid ongoing firefighting efforts.
References: [1] https://www.elpais.com/eco/2022-04-22/incendio-en-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n.html [2] https://www.abc.es/cadiz/20220422/abci-incendio-tarifa-cadiz-cientos-de-personas-evacuadas-202204221638.html [3] https://www.lasprovincias.es/cadiz/20220422/incendio-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n-6738932.html [4] https://www.elperiodico.com/es/cadiz/20220422/incendio-en-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n-6738927.html [5] https://www.elpais.com/eco/2022-04-22/incendio-en-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n.html [6] https://www.abc.es/cadiz/20220422/abci-incendio-tarifa-cadiz-cientos-de-personas-evacuadas-202204221638.html [7] https://www.lasprovincias.es/cadiz/20220422/incendio-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n-6738932.html [8] https://www.elperiodico.com/es/cadiz/20220422/incendio-en-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n-6738927.html [9] https://www.elpais.com/eco/2022-04-22/incendio-en-tarifa-cadiz-puede-ser-el-peor-de-la-historia-de-la-regio-n.html [10] https://www.abc.es/cadiz/20220422/abci-incendio-tarifa-cadiz-cientos-de-personas-evacuadas-202204221638.html
The wildfire's impact on the environment has extended to the weather, as wind gusts of up to 50 kilometers per hour are complicating the firefighting efforts in the mountainous region. The unfavorable weather conditions are causing concern for the safety of evacuees from urbanizations like Montaña de Los Alemanes and those at the foot of the Sierra de la Plata.
