40 firefighting crews battling wildfire in southern Catalonia

Forty firefighting crews are working to put out a forest fire that has been burning since this afternoon in southern Catalonia. 

Of the 40 teams fighting the blaze in La Pobla de Massaluca, in the county of Terra Alta, there are 11 aircrews and 32 ground squads. 

Out of precaution, police have evacuated around thirty people from the PortMassaluca campsite in La Pobla de Massaluca, and are moving the campers to the Faió sports center in Aragon. 

Emergency services have also evacuated five workers from a nearby crop area.

Communications affected

Also at the request of firefighters, train operator ADIF has stopped services of the R15 line that pass through the area, and there are no trains running on this stretch.

In addition, the roads TV-7231 and TV-7411 in La Pobla de Massaluca have been cut off.

The fire is burning an area very close to the river Ebre, but has expanded and is advancing west towards the border with the community of Aragon.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Separate fire outside Barcelona

The Fire Brigade has also been working this afternoon to put out a fire in the town of Figaró-Montmany, about an hour's drive outside of Barcelona to the north.

The flames started in a wooded area next to the municipal swimming pool and forced a farmhouse to be evacuated as a precaution.

At the moment, 22 crews are working on the blaze, between five air and 17 ground teams, which have focused their efforts on the right flank. According to firefighters, an hour after receiving the warning, the fire was completely surrounded by water hoses.