Monday Mar 27, 2023 - Spain - Fire Tourism warning, Animals left behind in wildfire, Police Officers Using Sex to gain information

These are the trending news headlines in Spain on Monday March 27, 2023

Spanish officials have warned against so-called "fire tourism" as a wildfire rages in the eastern part of the country. More than 500 firefighters and 20 planes and helicopters have been battling the blaze for four days since it broke out near Villanueva de Viver in the Valencia region. However, police have spotted 14 cyclists near the scene trying to get a closer look, posing risks to themselves and disrupting firefighting efforts. The fire has destroyed over 4,000 hectares of forest and forced 1,700 villagers to evacuate their homes. One firefighter sustained a minor injury while fighting the blaze.

Residents who were forced to evacuate due to Spain's first major wildfire of the year have recounted leaving their homes and animals behind. The blaze scorched more than 4,000 hectares of forest and forced 1,700 villagers to leave their homes in the Valencia and Aragon regions. More than 500 firefighters supported by 20 planes and helicopters are working to bring the blaze under control near Villanueva de Viver. The unusually dry winter across parts of southern Europe has raised concerns that there could be a repeat of last year's devastating wildfires. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which police believe may have been started by a spark from a machine used to gather brushwood.

The Spanish government is facing criticism over allegations that police officers infiltrated far-left and green groups, and used sexual relationships to gain information. The scandal was first reported in January by Catalan media La Directa, which revealed that a police officer going by the name of Daniel Hernández had sexual relations with members of a Barcelona squat and far-left movements since 2020. Six women have filed a complaint against the officer, accusing him of sexual abuse. The scandal deepened when climate activist group Extinction Rebellion said it had been infiltrated by a female police officer who had sexual relations with at least one member. This case echoes the UK's Kate Wilson, who was deceived into a sexual relationship with an undercover officer for nearly two years. Last year, a tribunal ruled that the police had violated her human rights.

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