Paüls, Spain - July 07, 2025 A wildfire that broke out on Monday morning near Paüls, in the Baix Ebre region of southern Catalonia, has already affected 1,600 hectares. Overnight, strong winds worsened conditions, opening two new flanks and prompting the evacuation of 50 residents. One of the flanks advanced toward a residential area in the town of Alfara de Carles, which has since been evacuated. The other flank moved toward the C-12 highway, forcing its partial closure. There are currently nearly 90 ground units, with a total of 280 firefighters actively working on the terrain. The Catalan government has requested assistance from the Emergency Military Unit (UME), the Spanish military’s rapid response force. Firefighters have stated that they prioritize rescuing people and protecting materials before focusing on containing the fire. SHOTLIST Wildfire in Pauls, Tarragona on 7 July. [Credit: X/andreagongom]