The fire declared in Vall d'Uixò has a perimeter of 21 kilometres and remains beyond extinguishing capacity. There are already 15,000 evacuees and 15 affected localities.
The forest fire that started this Saturday in Vall d'Uixò, in the province of Castellón, continues to be out of control and has forced the evacuation of around 15,000 people from 15 municipalities in the south of the province. The fire, which now has a perimeter of 21 kilometres, remains beyond extinguishing capacity, according to the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, after the meeting of the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopi).
The meeting also included the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, and the Government delegate in the Comunitat Valenciana, Pilar Bernabé, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. The flames are advancing uncontrollably, and authorities are working against the clock to protect the population and property.
The evacuations affect two neighbourhoods of Vall d'Uixò and two in Betxí, while the rest of the population in these two municipalities remains confined. Additionally, the localities of Vilavella, Artana, Eslida, Tales, Artesa (a district of Onda), Aín, Alcudia de Veo, Alfondeguilla, Sueras, Torralba, Villamalur, Fuentes de Ayódar, and Chóvar have been completely evacuated.
Pérez Llorca thanked the great effort made by the state security forces, the Generalitat, the provincial council, the municipalities, and the mayors for their cooperation in evacuating so many people, in some cases with a very short time frame. Coordination between administrations has been key to evacuating thousands of residents and holidaymakers.
Many of the 15,000 evacuated people were in second homes and have been able to return to their usual residences. For those who have nowhere else to go, three sports centres in Nules, Moncofa, and Onda have been set up, with another one to be added in Segorbe. These centres are prepared to accommodate evacuees while the situation stabilises.
The fire, which broke out in an area of difficult access, has been fuelled by high temperatures and wind, complicating extinguishing efforts. The deployed personnel are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but adverse weather conditions hinder their efforts. Authorities have urged the public to avoid affected areas and follow the instructions of emergency services.
The Generalitat Valenciana has activated all available resources, including aerial and ground units, to tackle the fire. The priority is to protect people's lives and prevent the flames from reaching more urban centres. So far, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported, although the deployment of resources continues.
This fire is the most serious recorded this summer in the Comunitat Valenciana and has put the entire region on alert. Authorities remind the importance of taking extreme precautions during high fire risk periods and following the instructions of emergency teams. The evolution of the fire will be assessed in the coming hours in new meetings of the Cecopi.
For the residents of Mallorca, although the fire is occurring on the Peninsula, it serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of forest areas during the summer. Local authorities recommend reviewing self-protection plans and maintaining preventive measures to avoid similar situations on the island.
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