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Firefighters struggle to stamp out spreading blaze in Valencia

Emergency forces some 400 people to evacuate their homes

Valencia -
Fire broke out overnight in a forest near Gilet in the province of Valencia.
Fire broke out overnight in a forest near Gilet in the province of Valencia.EFE (J.C. Cárdenas) (EFE)

Some 400 people were evacuated overnight from an area outside Gilet in Valencia province as firefighters struggled to stamp out a forest fire that continued to gain strength on Friday.

The blaze has destroyed scores of pine trees growing on a cliff that had been popular with visitors to the region. Gilet is located some 25 kilometers from Valencia.

Authorities said that high winds have helped the blaze spread toward the Calderona mountain range and the town of Albalat dels Tarongers.

According to emergency personnel, some 13 people have sought refuge at the Red Cross in Gilet on Thursday night.

While no damages to homes were reported, Efe news agency reported that the fire was threatening several rural neighbors. Residents near and around Albalat dels Tarongers and Segart were warned to be on the lookout for the blaze as it spreads toward their areas.

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