Wildfires that hit a major Spanish berry-growing region in late June are estimated to have cost the industry at least €5 million (US$5.8 million) in losses. 

Plantations of strawberries, blackberries and blueberries in Huelva were damaged, along with the tunnels under which the fruit is grown.

The fires began on June 20 and lasted for 10 days.

Damage assessments have not taken into account environmental damage or upcoming decline in production for the coming seasons.

The fire started in Doñana, a natural reserve in the southern region of Andalucía, which was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1994.

There are thousands of hectares of berry production in the region, according to grower association Asaja.

The organization said the future decline in productivity would be most felt with blueberries, but pointed out that the full effects of the fire on volumes may not be known for some time.

Asaja also reported many plants that were not burned had suffered from stress and dehydration.

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