North Costa Blanca on fire: Over 1,000 evacuated in Jávea and Benitatxell
North Costa Blanca on fire: Over 1,000 evacuated in Jávea and Benitatxell
A SERIES of wildfires which have joined together in the northern Alicante province towns of Benitatxell and Jávea have led to at least five urbanisations – many largely occupied by British expats – being evacuated.
Reports claim that some homes, possibly as many as 20, have already burnt down.
The blaze initially started at around 16.00 on Sunday in Benitatxell's Cumbre del Sol urbanisation, but it later flared up again in at least two different places.
Emergency services believe it to be the work of arsonists.
Planes and helicopters had to withdraw at 21.00 when night fell, and the Armed Forces' emergency response team was drafted in.
A sports centre and high school have been turned into a communal camp, and schools which were due to start back today (Monday) remain shut.
Most of the roads into Jávea have been closed and a hotel has been evacuated.
Jávea does not have its own fire brigade, meaning it relies on the local volunteer brigade and the Civil Protection squad to reach the scene first and tackle the blaze whilst the mainstream firefighters are on their way.
The inferno started exactly two years, minus one week, to the day of the devastating blaze on the Montgó nature reserve between Jávea and its northern neighbour, Dénia, destroying 444 hectares and forcing the evacuation of 1,400 people.
On the previous occasion, however, no houses were destroyed.
The current fire is thought to be one of the worst in the northern Costa Blanca's recent history.
Reports claim emergency services were winning the battle to contain it by around 03.00 this morning (Monday).
