Villagers evacuated as wildfire ravages woodlands in western Spain
Emergency crews evacuated around 600 villagers in western Spain overnight as a wildfire blamed on arsonists ravaged up to 8,000 hectares (19,800 acres) near the border with Portugal, officials said, Reuters reports.
Strong winds were making it harder to control the blaze in the areas of Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata north of the city of Caceres, which have some of the densest forest in the region, emergency services said on Friday.
Adds cancellation of trip by Prime Minister Sanchez
MADRID, May 19 (Reuters) - Emergency crews evacuated around 600 villagers in western Spain overnight as a wildfire blamed on arsonists ravaged up to 8,000 hectares (19,800 acres) near the border with Portugal, officials said.
Strong winds were making it harder to control the blaze in the areas of Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata north of the city of Caceres, which have some of the densest forest in the region, emergency services said on Friday.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who had been planning to visit the Extremadura region ahead of local elections next week, had to cancel his trip, his press office said.
People from the villages of Cadalso, Descargamaría and Robledillo de Gata were moved to a sports centre in the nearby town of Moraleja or to the homes of friends and families, the Civil Guard said.
Three roads in the area were closed, they added.
A total of 493 fires destroyed a record 307,000 hectares in Spain last year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.
