Wildfire rages on Spanish island of Ibiza
May 27th, 2011 - 11:56 am ICT by IANSPalma de Mallorca (Spain), May 27 (IANS/EFE) A wildfire on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza has scorched some 1,500 hectares of pine forest and prompted the evacuation of 80 homes and a school, said Spanish officials Thursday.
A 50-year-old man accused of having accidentally started the blaze was turned over to prosecutors.
The biggest wildfire ever in the popular vacation destination began from a spark that fell to the ground as the man, identified only as M.C.C., was using a smoker to blow smoke into a beehive.
M.C.C. did not notice the spark and returned to his home, Spanish police said.
The “very active” fire is advancing in the direction of the coastal town of Portinatx, authorities said.
Fighting the blaze are some 300 people on the ground, supported by eight airplanes and seven helicopters.
A fire that raged for 12 days in Ibiza last August scorched 375 hectares and forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people.
–IANS/EFE
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