Spanish firefighters are working to bring under control a forest fire near Valencia that has forced the evacuation of around 1,000 people from homes and holiday properties.
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Authorities said more than 200 firefighters with 65 vehicles had been deployed to tackle the wildfire near the Mediterranean resort of Javea.
The temperature in the area was forecast to reach 36C on Monday but officials said they hoped a stiff wind that had fanned the flames would ease.
Emergency services said on Sunday they had almost brought the blaze under control, but when water-dumping aircraft were stood down after sunset the fire surged again.
A firefighter plane flies over a wildfire near Benitachel village in east Spain
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A firefighter plane flies over a wildfire near Benitachel village in east Spain. Photograph: Alberto Saiz/AP
Tourists were evacuated from Javea and Benitatxell, a resort near Benidorm popular with Britons and Germans. Some evacuees were put up in schools. Maria del Pilar Zamora, a Javea city councillor, told Antena 3 TV that others had been put up for the night by residents in safe zones.
Photos and videos posted on social media showed flames raging near built-up areas. Several homes were destroyed by the fire, according to Antena 3.
Among those who posted photos of the blaze was Chris Stark, a BBC Radio 1 personality who was on holiday in the area. “This is crazy. I think my car and maybe my apartment is on fire,” he tweeted on Sunday. He sent another tweet on Monday saying he was safe.
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