A virulent fire leaves nine slightly injured and forces the evacuation of more than 3,000 people in Roussillon

BarcelonaA virulent fire has forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 people this Thursday in Roussillon, in Northern Catalonia. There are nine minor injuries, including a minor. Most of the affected were staying in three campsites in the town of Canet-en-Roussillon and the beach has also been evacuated, in some cases directly by sea. The flames have crossed the campsites and have incinerated at least 256 bungalows. The fire has also reached the marina area and has burned at least one of the yachts moored there and a catamaran construction company.

In fact, firefighters are now concentrating their efforts at this point, because there are several factories with toxic and polluting products that are highly flammable. The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. between Santa Maria la Mar and Canet-en-Roussillon, and in the first hours of work, two French police officers and one firefighter were injured. As explained by the prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Pierre Regnault, one of the workers suffered heatstroke and the other was intoxicated by smoke.

For the time being, no other personal injuries are reported, but firefighters have warned from the outset that they foresee the fire leaving "particularly significant" material damage. The fire continues to evolve and emergency teams have deployed a significant operation with more than 200 firefighters. Four helicopters, three seaplanes, and another aerial unit with retardant have also been mobilized, but so far they have not made any drops for the safety of people.

"The priority now is to save the nautical center of Canet de Rosselló and to accompany the campsites that have suffered damage," Regnault emphasized. "Tomorrow we will have to support the businesses affected by the fire," he added.

The tramuntana fuels the fire

From the first moment, the French authorities have warned that the fire is "particularly virulent" due to strong gusts of wind in the area, between 80 and 85 kilometers per hour. "Do not fall into the temptation of curiosity," they warned in a statement in which they asked residents not to approach the fire. The fire advanced, pushed by the tramontana wind and unfavorable climatic conditions, and quickly reached the campsites Le Brasilia, Le Marina, and Le Santa Maria, where 1,700 people were evacuated, including 10 with reduced mobility. The flames have reached across the Tet river and have also jumped the departmental road RD-81.

This Thursday, there are other active fires on the Mediterranean coast of France. The largest is in the Oupia mountains (in Languedoc), and by early afternoon it had already affected about 900 hectares.