More than 3,000 people have been evacuated by a forest fire in Northern Catalonia

Astate of emergency has been declared in Northern Cataloniafollowing a violent forest fire inthevicinity of a campsite in Santa Maria la Mar (Sainte-Marie-la-Mer), which has forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 people and injured a firefighter working against the flames.

According to regional security services, the incident was caused by the explosion of a gas canister, which passed rapidly across the river and hit two campsites and a marina in the neighbouring town.

Given the high risk of forest fires throughout the territory, the Prefect of the Eastern Pyrenees has called for extreme surveillance measures to prevent further spread of fire and protect the population.