A military member of the UME dies during the fire that is burning in Huesca
The man has died in a traffic accident
BarcelonaA member of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) died this Sunday while participating in the operation to extinguish the fire declared on Monday in Las Peñas de Riglos (Huesca). According to the Efe agency, the man died as a result of a traffic accident during the work to put out the fire. The president of the government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, has conveyed his condolences to the lieutenant general of the UME, as reported by the Aragonese government.
The tragedy comes just as optimistic news was arriving about the fire that has been burning in the area for a week. The director of fire extinction, Franco Aso, stated this Sunday that there is "certain optimism" thanks to the fact that the operation has managed to contain the advance of the fire in the sectors that could head towards Mount Oroel. An optimism that has also been justified by the forecast of rain in the area that could help to put out the fire.
In statements to the media, Aso explained that throughout the day "very complex and costly maneuvers" have been carried out for the personnel working on the ground, who have also had to face meteorological changes. He pointed out that in the areas of most concern, in the east and northeast of the fire, the fire has been contained, although he qualified that this circumstance must be treated "with extreme caution because there is still a lot of work to be done" and because the operation is exposed to the weather.
Aso added to this equation the arrival of aid from different administrations, which will allow for continuity to have "better news in the coming hours and days". The Las Peñas de Riglos fire has affected more than 16,000 hectares since it was declared on Monday and has led to the evacuation of 1,046 residents from 19 population centers.
Catalonia sends another firefighting team
Precisely this Sunday, the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, announced the dispatch of a new team of firefighters to Aragon to tackle the fire affecting the territory. He explained this in a message on X, in which he recalled that this deployment adds to the resources already working there these days. Illa defended that “solidarity and cooperation” are essential in the face of emergencies. “All our support to the affected people and to the professionals who work tirelessly”, he concluded.