Ibiza Fire Could Be Worst in Balearic Islands’ History
May 31st, 2011
The forest fire that has swept over the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja since Wednesday and has, according to Defence Minister, Carme Chacón, burned an area of 1,500 hectares, could become the most serious in the history of the Balearic Islands and be worse than the fire that occurred in S’Alqueria (Arta) on August 31, 1992 which affected a total of 2044 hectares.
However, as indicated by Chacón and the Ministry of Environment, until they can fully smother the flames they will not be able to know the actual size of the area affected by the fire, so that, for now, the figures given are estimates and may increase or decrease once the fire is extinguished. The blaze was finally brought under control on Sunday but the authorities have said that it will take days to extinguish completely.
The S’Alqueria fire, which is the most serious in the history of the islands, was followed – in degrees of severity – by fires in Ses Bases (Andratx) on 1 June 1994, which burned 1266 hectares, the Duaia Sa (Arta) on October 8, 1999 which burned 1112 hectares and the Canals and Son Ca’n Sanxo (Arta) which occurred on 10 August 1994 and scorched 901 hectares.
Other fires which occurred were at Na Bourgeois (Calvia) on July 31, 1993 which affected 492 hectares, Ca’n Lleig and Es Bosc (Escorca) on September 14, 1993 which burned 473 hectares, and Son Ganxo (Manacor) on August 4, 2000 that burned 414 hectares.
However, the fire which originated in Benirràs cove in Ibiza in August 2010, which charred about 350 hectares, was the first in the Balearic Islands which was declared a “Level 2” and formed part of the list of most important fires in the Balearic Islands, based on the area affected.
On Thursday and Friday between 220 and 250 people were evacuated from their homes, and some 700 tourists were evacuated from a local hotel. Spanish Authorities say there have been no injuries as a result of the fire, which allegedly was started when a man got into difficulties while smoking bee hives in the area.
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