A significant fire erupted in the popular tourist destination of Can Picafort, Mallorca, earlier this week, necessitating emergency evacuations. The fire began on Monday, August 24, originating from a sports shop.
Local police observed smoke emanating from the shop at approximately 10:45 a.m. Manuel Gallardo, chief of Santa Margalida Police, stated that the building "immediately started pouring out very black smoke, and it spread upwards." A woman and four children were rescued from an apartment situated above the shop, and residents of four other homes were evacuated.
Firefighters responded to the incident, and the blaze was declared extinguished at 5:40 p.m., seven hours after the initial smoke was reported. Bombers de Mallorca shared footage of the emergency response on social media, showing firefighters working to control the fire and assess the damage.
One firefighter sustained an electric shock and was transported to the hospital, while other emergency personnel received treatment for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.
An air conditioning unit plug is believed to be the cause of the fire.
This incident follows a separate fire that occurred days earlier at an apartment block in Playa de s'Arenal, another Mallorcan resort. In that event, at least five people were reportedly injured, with some individuals trapped inside the building. That blaze began on the first floor of a five-storey building around 6:45 p.m. local time.
Earlier in August, a wildfire near Alaro and Consell, reportedly caused by a lightning strike, burned approximately 2.1 hectares of scrubland before being brought under control. Several firefighters were involved in extinguishing that fire.
The island has also experienced adverse weather conditions recently. Last week, orange weather warnings were issued for high temperatures across the Balearic Islands, with parts of Mallorca expecting to reach up to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit). Thunderstorms and strong winds, with gusts exceeding 60 mph in Porreres on August 20, have also affected the region.