Andalusia, Spain, Aug 8 (V7N) - More than 275 firefighters were battling a challenging wildfire in Spain's southern Andalusia region on Saturday, though authorities said no residential zones were currently at threat.
The blaze, burning north of the town of Niebla—between Seville and the Portuguese border—was active across approximately 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres), according to Antonio Sanz, an adviser to Andalusia's emergency service.
"This wildfire is driven by constantly changing winds, which up-ends attack strategies," Sanz told reporters. He noted that a "window of opportunity" had opened on Saturday for a few hours before conditions worsened again later in the day.
Some 60 military troops were among the 275 firefighters, assisted by around 20 aircraft and heavy machinery, the regional fire service said.
Spain is enduring a tough summer for wildfires, with several blazes forcing thousands to evacuate, particularly in central regions. One forest fire in the Avila region near Madrid in July was considered the largest in recent Spanish history. Earlier in July, another sweeping blaze in Andalusia's Almeria province claimed 14 lives.
Europe has suffered successive heatwaves and drought this year, which scientists say have been aggravated by human-generated climate change.
