Else Beekman
Most residents in southern Tarragona have been allowed outdoors again from Wednesday morning after days of tension due to the massive wildfire that broke out near Paüls on Monday. Only the village of Paüls itself remains under restrictions while firefighters work to fully stabilise the blaze.
According to the latest official updates, the Catalan Fire Brigade (Bombers de la Generalitat) managed to bring 90% of the fire perimeter under control overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. Thanks to calmer conditions and intensive efforts, authorities expect the situation to improve further in the coming hours.
However, officials remain cautious. Two critical hotspots persist in Paüls and the nearby area of Prat del Comte. Both are located on steep, hard-to-reach hillsides, making firefighting operations more challenging.
Restrictions eased in surrounding villages
Residents of Xerta, Alfara de Carles, Aldover, Tivenys, Roquetes, and three neighbourhoods in Tortosa, the largest city in the area, are now free to move about after two days of confinement. The air raid warning issued via the Es-Alert system has also been lifted in all these locations.
The affected area now covers 3,321 hectares—equivalent to more than 4,600 football pitches. Strong winds on Monday and Tuesday drove the flames rapidly towards the Els Ports Natural Park, a scenario firefighters were determined to prevent. According to operations chief Joan Rovira:
“We hope the positive developments overnight will continue, but we still need a few more hours before we can declare the fire stabilised. We are monitoring the weather closely, especially any rain or renewed gusts of wind.”
Smoke reaches Alicante province
The scale of the fire has been felt well beyond Catalonia. A thick plume of smoke drifted southwards across the Valencia region, reaching as far as Alicante province. In many places, the air has been heavy with the smell of smoke and particles of ash.
What does stabilisation mean?
A fire is considered “stabilised” when it is no longer spreading, although it is not yet fully extinguished. In the coming hours and days, firefighting crews will remain on standby to prevent any flare-ups.
Residents are advised to follow official channels for the latest information, especially if travelling near Paüls or the surrounding area.
Tarragona wildfire forces lockdowns and evacuations across Terres de l’Ebre