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| Huge wildfire reaches Marbella in southern Spain | Huge wildfire reaches Marbella in southern Spain |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A huge wildfire is approaching the wealthy resort of Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol, where the authorities have evacuated thousands of people. | A huge wildfire is approaching the wealthy resort of Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol, where the authorities have evacuated thousands of people. |
| Flames reached the Elviria area on the edge of Marbella early on Friday. | Flames reached the Elviria area on the edge of Marbella early on Friday. |
| About 1,000 people have been evacuated from the edge of Marbella, about 3,300 from Ojen and others from a camp site at Alpujata, Spanish media report. | About 1,000 people have been evacuated from the edge of Marbella, about 3,300 from Ojen and others from a camp site at Alpujata, Spanish media report. |
| They include at least 300 British expats sent to evacuation centres, the UK embassy told the BBC. | They include at least 300 British expats sent to evacuation centres, the UK embassy told the BBC. |
| Marbella is famous for its up-market hotels and villas - it is a favourite haunt of wealthy foreigners. | Marbella is famous for its up-market hotels and villas - it is a favourite haunt of wealthy foreigners. |
| Overnight the fire spread rapidly through a 12km (eight-mile) coastal strip, not far from holiday resorts. | Overnight the fire spread rapidly through a 12km (eight-mile) coastal strip, not far from holiday resorts. |
| Two people have suffered serious burns and some homes have been engulfed by the fire. | Two people have suffered serious burns and some homes have been engulfed by the fire. |
| The Costa del Sol is one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations and home to a large British expatriate community. | The Costa del Sol is one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations and home to a large British expatriate community. |
| The British embassy says it is working closely with the Spanish authorities and consular staff have been deployed to assist those affected. | The British embassy says it is working closely with the Spanish authorities and consular staff have been deployed to assist those affected. |
| More than 250 firefighters are battling the fire, helped by 17 aircraft dropping water to douse it, Spain's El Pais news website says. | |
| Much of Spain's countryside was left tinder-dry this summer by a prolonged heatwave. There have been major wildfires in northern Catalonia - near the Pyrenees - and on La Gomera, in the Canary Islands. | Much of Spain's countryside was left tinder-dry this summer by a prolonged heatwave. There have been major wildfires in northern Catalonia - near the Pyrenees - and on La Gomera, in the Canary Islands. |
| Kimberley Stone, a British woman on holiday with her family in the village of El Soto, said the fire approached rapidly on Thursday night, forcing them to flee their apartment. | |
| "As we drove down the hill we went through burning embers that were everywhere," she told the BBC. | |
| "Fires are not uncommon but I have never seen them on this scale before. The wildfire seemed to dip and then suddenly the wind picked up and we saw fire coming towards our apartment." | |
| They drove to El Puerto, spending the night in the car. | |
| Residents of Ojen described panic as the flames forced them to flee without time to gather belongings. "We left just in our clothes, our nerves jangling," said Filomena Gomez. | |
| Evacuees from Ojen are now staying in a sports hall in Marbella. | |
| Gill Williams, a British resident of Monda near Marbella, said an evacuation siren had gone off in the village at 03:00 (0100 GMT) on Friday. | |
| "The wind has picked up and the fires are coming towards Monda. We are preparing to leave with our dogs, cats and four hens. There has been fantastic support on social media, with all us expats helping out," she told the BBC. | |
| "There was a shelter for stray dogs and cats - there has been so much support that saved a lot of the animals." | |
| The wind speed has dropped since Thursday and the air is more humid, so there are hopes that the Costa del Sol blaze can be contained soon. | The wind speed has dropped since Thursday and the air is more humid, so there are hopes that the Costa del Sol blaze can be contained soon. |
| The fire started on Thursday afternoon in the Sierra Negra area of Coin, near Malaga and has now affected an area of some 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres). | The fire started on Thursday afternoon in the Sierra Negra area of Coin, near Malaga and has now affected an area of some 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres). |
| Part of the AP-7 highway was cut temporarily, but other roads are unaffected. It is not yet clear how many homes have been damaged or destroyed. | Part of the AP-7 highway was cut temporarily, but other roads are unaffected. It is not yet clear how many homes have been damaged or destroyed. |
| Are you in the Costa del Sol? Have you seen the wildfire where you are? Have you been evacuated from your area? You can tell us your stories using the form below. | Are you in the Costa del Sol? Have you seen the wildfire where you are? Have you been evacuated from your area? You can tell us your stories using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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