Forest fires in Spain and Cuba prompt evacuations

A forest fire ignited this afternoon in the Santa Elena area of Spain's Sierra Morena region, threatening nearby settlements and the protected park. Authorities deployed about 80 forest firefighters, heavy‑tractors, two water‑tankers, and specialist units, and closed the JA‑7100 and JA‑7102 roads to allow emergency access. The blaze forced the preventive evacuation of nearly 200 people from the Miranda del Rey hamlet and a local farm school.

In eastern Cuba, a fire of "considerable magnitude" broke out in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park. Official reports say the fire has affected roughly 600 hectares, mostly scrubland with about 100 hectares of forest. The blaze is spread across three fronts and is being tackled by park rangers from Guantánamo and Holguín, the Ministry of the Interior, the armed forces and local brigades using firebreaks and back‑burning techniques. The fire is expected to be extinguished by the weekend, while the cause remains under investigation, with illegal mining mentioned as a possible factor.