Tourists flee hotel as Spain wildfires and heatwave spark evacuation in holiday hotspot

Tourists flee hotel as Spain wildfires and heatwave spark evacuation in holiday hotspot Tourists and residents had to be evacuated from Grazalema, in Cádiz, as wildfires threatened to engulf accommodation in the village amid soaring temperatures Tourists have been forced to flee accommodation as a ferocious wildfire threatens a holiday hotspot. Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal, Greece and Spain amid extreme conditions on the continent, where temperatures have soared above 40C in recent weeks. And shocking images show thick smoke from fire behind a swimming pool in Grazalema, Cádiz, where the Hotel Fuerte and homes have been evacuated. Other footage from the region shows fire crews battling flames in El Alamillo, in the Sierra de Grazalema mountain range where helicopters and planes have been deployed to help tackle wildfires. Just five months ago, people were forced to evacuate accommodation in Grazalema due to the risk of landslides caused by the record-breaking rains from Storm Leonardo. But now nearly 200 people were told to leave their properties due to forest fires in the natural park. Grazalema is a popular village for tourists heading on hikes and other outdoor activities. The Andalusian Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service has been working tirelessly to put out the blaze affecting a 200 hectare area. It was brought under control this morning. "The situation has improved, there are no flames at the moment and only areas of smouldering," said Andalucia’s regional minister Antonio Sanz. He added that the job now was for "microsurgery" with the use of planes to target the areas where there is still heat. He also said there is a danger of the fires rekindling. The fire covered an area of ecological importance including an oak forest, and its cause is under investigation. Sanz said fire crews will remain in the area until the fire is fully controlled and extinguished. A message from the Andalusian Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Service on X read: "#IFGrazalema (#Cádiz). El Alamillo area. Operational situation 1. Following the night-time work, the firefighting command will conduct a reconnaissance flight to assess the fire's situation. Subsequently, the operations committee will meet." It comes as authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, to remain indoors and shut their windows due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire. Another major wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon west of the Greek capital, Athens. The fire department said 210 firefighters, backed up by volunteers, specialised teams and 29 aircraft including water-dropping planes and helicopters, were deployed to battle the blaze burning through pine forest in the Mandra area. While elsewhere in Spain, a wildfire that began on Friday in the northeastern Girona region had burned nearly 2,200 hectares and was finally brought under control on Sunday.