Hundreds evacuated as another wildfire hits southwestern Spain

Aug. 9, 2026 Updated Sun., Aug. 9, 2026 at 8:52 p.m.

German Press Agency

By German Press Agency

MADRID – Just under 500 people have been evacuated due to a forest fire in southwestern Spain.

The fire, which broke out Thursday, has so far engulfed nearly 20,000 acres in the province of Huelva, the regional government of Andalusia said on Sunday.

The number of evacuees rose slightly to 474 on Sunday. However, no towns or villages were under immediate threat, according to reports.

The flames spread rapidly over the past few days, partly due to strong winds, said Andalusian Interior Minister Antonio Sanz.

“Today, however, we are somewhat more optimistic,” he emphasized. Progress has been made in fighting the blaze, thanks in part to improved weather conditions. The southern part of the fire is now under control.

Near the small town of Niebla, around 37 miles west of Seville, some 500 firefighters continued to battle flames in a hilly woodland area. They were supported at times by up to 26 firefighting aircraft and helicopters.

Spain is being hit by an exceptional wildfire season this year.

“Since the start of the year, almost 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) have been affected,” said Spain’s minister for ecological transition, Sara Aagesen.

There have already been 40 major fires in 2026. “Last year, there were 15 at this stage,” she added.

According to the Spanish wildfire portal ‘Incendios Forestales’, 37 mostly small forest and vegetation fires were active across the country on Sunday.

The regions worst affected are the Valencia region in the east, which is popular with holidaymakers, and Castile and León in the northwest of the country.

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