THUNDER and lightning in the province of Almería caused three fires yesterday and emergency services are still working on putting them out.
Over 3,500 bolts of lightning hit the country in the early hours of Wednesday, of which 2,000 were in the Almería province and seven people, including two children, had to be evacuated from their homes in Mojácar.
Several other houses in Huércal Overa were also going to be evacuated but they turned out to be unoccupied.
Three forest fires threatening residential areas and caused by lightning strikes were reported in Turre, Mojácar and Huércal Overa and 14 fire engines and hydroplanes have been working on bringing them under control ever since.
At least 300 calls to the 112 emergency line were received over Tuesday night and Wednesday morning as a result of fires caused by the freak storm which came at the end of a week-long heat-wave with temperatures in the shade exceeding 40ºC.
Another blaze started by lightning was reported in Jaén and firefighters have finally managed to put it out after working on it all night long.
So far, no injuries or fatalities have been reported and no damage to personal property appears to have been caused, but in many of the areas the fires are still burning.
