XERTA, SPAIN: A fast-moving wildfire has forced Spanish authorities to order more than 18,000 residents in Catalonia’s Tarragona province to remain indoors, while several dozen people have been evacuated as flames continue to tear through nearly 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of forest and brushland.

The wildfire, which ignited early Monday near the remote village of Paüls, is being fueled by strong winds and challenging terrain, severely hampering firefighting efforts. Officials have deployed over 300 firefighters and an emergency military unit to the region in a desperate attempt to contain the blaze.

The fire adds to growing fears across Spain, where several regions are on high wildfire alert following the hottest June on record. Just last week, two people were killed in a wildfire in Catalonia, highlighting the deadly consequences of the extreme heat and dry conditions.

Blaze Fueled by 90 km/h Winds

“Since midnight, firefighters have been battling under extremely difficult conditions, with gusts of wind reaching up to 90 km/h (56 mph),” Catalonia’s regional firefighting service reported. The strong Mistral winds are expected to ease later in the day, potentially offering a much-needed window for containment operations.

Throughout the night, fire trucks raced along the twisting mountain roads of the Paüls range, surrounded by flames and smoke as crews worked to assess the fire’s spread and prevent it from reaching nearby communities.

In the nearby villages of Xerta and Aldover, fear gripped residents as they endured a sleepless night under the threat of encroaching fire.

“There was so much fear and crying — we’re right on the fire’s edge,” said Rosa Veleda, 76, a resident of Xerta. “Last night, the wind carried flames and smoke so close that we couldn’t even step outside. It was terrible — we’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Critical River Crossing Contained

Authorities confirmed they successfully prevented the fire from leaping across the Ebro River, a natural barrier that, if crossed, could have exponentially worsened the situation. Despite the progress, nearly 30% of the scorched land lies within the Ports Natural Park, a protected biodiversity hotspot.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, though officials have not yet indicated whether it was started by natural causes or human activity.

With no let-up in Spain’s soaring summer temperatures, officials are urging residents across the country to remain alert and follow all emergency instructions. For Catalonia, the coming hours will be critical as firefighters battle both the blaze and the elements to keep it from spiraling into a larger catastrophe.