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Rural tourism remains in suspense in Ovejuela after the fire in Las Hurdes

2023-05-23T09:59:28.705Z

Highlights: "Ovejuela is still green," insist the inhabitants of one of the districts of Pinofranqueado, an area where the fire of Las Hurdes originated. The fire burned more than 10,000 hectares, which is a quarter of the total hectares that have burned during this year, according to data from Copernicus, the Earth Observation Program of the European Union. A good part of the forest that can be seen from the only access road has become a cemetery of trees.


The inhabitants of this small town in Cáceres, evacuated by fire, try to recover normality and see the main economic activity of the area threatened.


"Ovejuela is still green," insist the inhabitants of one of the districts of Pinofranqueado, an area where the fire of Las Hurdes originated. The proximity of the flames forced the evacuation of dozens of neighbors who, after this weekend, have already been able to return to their homes. Now they fear that the destruction of the landscape surrounding the road at the entrance to the town will harm their businesses, most of which are linked to rural tourism. "There may be customers who cancel reservations," laments Victoria Rodrigo, owner of two rural houses in Ovejuela (Cáceres). The 61-year-old from Cáceres says that now they have to reinvent themselves, since the routes and trails that lead to the waterfalls – the biggest tourist attraction in the area – have been affected by the fire.

The small village (118 inhabitants), located in the heart of Las Hurdes, is located in a valley surrounded by mountains and thick vegetation. A good part of the forest that can be seen from the only access road has become a cemetery of trees. The smell of burning can still be perceived. The fire burned more than 10,000 hectares, which is a quarter of the total hectares that have burned during this year, according to data from Copernicus, the Earth Observation Program of the European Union.

Victoria says she has already warned her clients of the "horror" they will encounter when they travel that road of entry. But he insists that not everything has been burned: "The jewel in the crown, which is 'El Chorrito' – a waterfall near the town – has been saved." According to the woman from Cáceres, this excursion is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area. In addition to the rural houses of Victoria, in the town there are other businesses whose owners feel the same uncertainty about future expectations.

This is the case of José Luis Hernández, owner of the only restaurant in Ovejuela. Hernández opened the doors of the grill nine years ago and says he had never experienced anything like it. An important part of its income comes from tourists who come to enjoy a few days surrounded by nature. From the window of the restaurant, you can see the contrast between the green of the trees – most of them pine trees – and the black of the ashes left by the fire. "This on weekends gets full," says Hernández, adding that now we just have to wait and see what happens in the next few days.

José Luis Hernández, owner of the only restaurant in OvejuelaMariel Delgado

In the interior of the village the devastating effects of the virulent fire are not appreciated. Only on a poster hanging on the worn wall of a house warning that a campaign event of a mayoral candidate that was to be held on Thursday, May 18, the day after the fire was declared, has been suspended. For the rest, the orchards and gardens of the stone houses maintain the vivid colors of spring.

A group of neighbors arrive at Hernández's restaurant. They introduce themselves as "the youth of the village." They sit down to have a beer and begin to speculate about when the lost nature will be recovered. "I say in two years," says Sergio Sanchez, 39, who was born and raised in Ovejuela. He relates that he had already experienced another fire in the village when he was nine years old: "We put that one out ourselves, the flames warmed us from how close they were." The group agrees that the worst is over. Their evacuation was especially arduous because they cut off the road and were trapped inside the village. After spending all Thursday night in suspense, they managed to escape in the morning of the next day. Now they focus on continuing their lives and moving forward with their businesses, although a part of the landscape still reminds them of the tragedy.

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2023-05-23

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