Costa Brava wildfire stabilized after affecting 70 hectares

The wildfire that broke out early Friday afternoon in Castell d'Aro, one of the Costa Brava's most famous tourist hotspots on the northern Catalan coast, was stabilized on Saturday morning.

The flames affected 70 hectares of vegetation, according to the rural officers.

Hundreds of people had been evacuated since the blaze broke out near residential areas, but they were allowed to return home during the night and early morning on Saturday.

Those staying at Club Golf Masnou, and La Coma, Les Teules, Can Batet, Can Riera, and Vallvanera residential areas can now access their homes after firefighters benefited from better weather conditions to tackle blaze at night.

Humidity increased and wind from sea stopped, which helped professionals stabilize both right and left flanks.

On Saturday morning, the firefighters still had around 30 water trucks reviewing the fire perimeter.

Forest cleanup works may have caused blaze

According to the Catalan rural officers, forest cleanup works may have caused the incident.

The coastal resort towns of Platja d'Aro and S'Agaró - which make up the Castell d'Aro municipality - and Sant Feliu de Guíxols are some 10 kilometers south of Sant Antoni de Calonge and Palamós.

Both Castell d'Aro and the neighboring Santa Cristina d'Aro activated their local emergency protocols for wildfires on Friday.