Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Fierce wildfires scorch eastern Spain. More than 1,000 residents were evacuated this past
week as four wildfires burned through forest and brush in the provinces of Valencia and
Alicante, destroying at least 2,500 hectares thus far. With some regions of flame approaching
urban areas, more than 700 firefighters were dispatched and have been working tirelessly
to put out the fires since early Tuesday, September 7. As of Thursday, officials reported
that one blaze was under control but not extinguished, with heat, winds and general lack of rain
creating extremely dry conditions and leaving approximately 2,000 hectares still burning
in Alicante and Murcia provinces. Evacuated residents are being housed in shelters provided
by local governments and the Red Cross, with access to certain roads and rail services
disrupted as well. Defense minister Carme Chacon, who flew over the affected regions
to see for herself, said: “This is one of the fiercest fires we have seen for many years.”
Supreme Master Ching Hai asked our nearby Association members to please check with regional
governments and agencies such as the Red Cross to see if any help is needed, and to go if
possible to offer aid to the most vulnerable afflicted. She added that funds are available
as necessary.
Our sincere thanks, firefighting and emergency personnel as well as government officials
for your timely actions to safeguard the public. Wishing Spain the blessing of gentle rain
as we pray for the protection of both human and animal residents, and that such destructive
events are minimized with our kinder care of the environment�