North Costa Blanca on fire: Over 1,000 evacuated in Jávea and Benitatxell
Monday, September 5, 2016 @ 10:24 AM
A SERIES of wildfires which have joined together in the northern Alicante province towns of Benitatxell and Jávea have led to at least five urbanisations – many largely occupied by British expats – being evacuated.
Reports claim that some homes, possibly as many as 20, have already burnt down.
The blaze initially started at around 16.00 on Sunday in Benitatxell's Cumbre del Sol urbanisation, but it later flared up again in at least two different places.
Emergency services believe it to be the work of arsonists.
Planes and helicopters had to withdraw at 21.00 when night fell, and the Armed Forces' emergency response team was drafted in.
A sports centre and high school have been turned into a communal camp, and schools which were due to start back today (Monday) remain shut.
Most of the roads into Jávea have been closed and a hotel has been evacuated.
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