Emergency services have been tackling two wildfires that broke out simultaneously yesterday afternoon near the AP-7 motorway in the municipalities of San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar, in the Region of Murcia.

The first alert was received shortly before 5pm, when the 1-1-2 Emergency Coordination Centre began handling more than 100 calls reporting flames along the motorway between kilometres 778 and 779, near the Los Sáez and El Mirador exits. What began as a single burning tree spread to nearby woodland and a plot of palm trees, sending a dense column of smoke across the Mar Menor area.

A major response was deployed, including crews from the Murcia Fire and Rescue Consortium, Cartagena City Council firefighters and a helicopter from the Directorate General for Citizen Security and Emergencies. Local Police and Civil Protection volunteers from San Javier have also supported operations.

At the same time, a second fire was reported near the AP-7 exit for San Pedro del Pinatar, mainly affecting scrubland along the roadside. Firefighters from Pilar de la Horadada in Alicante province have assisted Murcia crews, while Local Police in San Pedro have coordinated efforts on the ground.