A wildfire near the town of Niebla has consumed around 8,000 hectares, with firefighters battling to prevent its spread toward Seville. Andalusian officials say they are 'somewhat more optimistic,' but a tough day lies ahead.
A large wildfire that has been raging for days in Spain's Andalusia region remains active, but local authorities on Sunday, August 9, 2026, expressed cautious optimism about its further development. The blaze, which broke out on Thursday near the town of Niebla in the province of Huelva, has so far affected an area of approximately 8,000 hectares.
Due to the danger, between 467 and 470 people have been preventively evacuated, depending on the source. Dutch public broadcaster NOS reports 467 evacuees, while French newspaper Le Figaro, citing the AFP agency, puts the figure at 470. The fire is located about 70 kilometers from the southern border with Portugal.
Firefighting efforts are being greatly hampered by inaccessible, rocky terrain and strong winds. "We are dealing with winds of around 30 to 35 kilometers per hour in the middle of the day," said Francisco Toscano, the Spanish government's representative in Andalusia, to the Spanish newspaper El País. The wind direction in the coming hours will be crucial for the further course of the operation.
Firefighting teams are trying to prevent the fire from crossing the Tinto River and spreading toward the province of Seville. According to Toscano, they have already begun building defensive lines. More than 500 people are involved in the fight against the flames, including firefighters and other emergency services, assisted by 250 members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME). The operation is supported from the air by more than twenty aircraft, including 26 firefighting planes, as well as heavy machinery. NOS reports that 60 soldiers are also participating in the firefighting efforts.
Despite the challenging conditions, officials on Sunday indicated signs of progress. "There is still work ahead and a tough day with many interventions, but (...) we are somewhat more optimistic," said Antonio Sanz, Andalusia's counselor for emergencies, on the ground. He stressed that not all areas affected by the fire have been completely burned.
Also present at the scene was the Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, who pointed to the extremely difficult wildfire season Spain is facing. "We are talking about 40 large wildfires this year in 2026. At the same time last year, we had 15. This shows the seriousness and complexity of what we are experiencing in our country," the minister warned.
While the battle rages in Andalusia, firefighters and UME members are also battling another fire in the east of the country, in the province of Castellón. That fire has so far affected nearly 400 hectares, prompting authorities to issue an evacuation order for a small nearby settlement.
Photographer Mikel Konate from the REUTERS agency captured members of units BRICA 401 and 402 in Granada on Saturday, August 8, using hand tools in an attempt to contain the firestorm. Europe has been hit this year by successive heatwaves and severe drought, which scientists attribute to human-induced climate change. The extreme heat has dried out vegetation that grew during rainy periods earlier in the year, creating conditions akin to a powder keg.
