Raging Inferno Strikes Ojen, Elviria and Coin.
On Thursday 30 August a raging inferno of fire struck in the region of Ojen spreading its destructive path as far as Coin and Mijas leaving leaving a trail of devastation behind it. The enormous fire that is believed to have started at Alhaurin el Grande, was fanned by the strong wind and stretched over 7 kilometres destroying homes and many acres of surrounding nature.
At Ojen some 4000 people were evacuated form their homes and in Elviria some homes were destroyed as the fire raged through the night . The fire authorities battled all day and during the night, to bring it under control, and during the daylight hours a reported 17 aircraft fought the inferno below from the air. Ángeles Muñoz, the Mayor of Marbella, confirmed that several urbanisations had been evacuated, including La Mairena, Elviria, the area of Las Chapas and Molinillo where the fire was concentrated and continued to advance and has affected Coín where some 60 homes have had to be evacuated.
The fire was still raging in the very early hours of the morning and was visible from near and far, and this morning viewing the scene in the distance from where I was standing, I could still see smoke rising and hear the sounds of aircraft and sirens pervading the air.
The fire was reported in various countries, including Sweden, the United Kingdom and Holland whose media gave considerable coverage to this fire.
The dramatic photos above were taken by photographer Paul Wilcockson L.M.P.A who was considerably closer to the events and we must thank him for sending us these photos.
Photography by Paul Wilcockson LMPA, www.marbellafotosonline.com
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