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Huge forest fire engulfes island of El Hierro 12/09/2006 00:00

12 September 2006

EL HIERRO — The blaze which has engulfed the tiny island of El Hierro near the Canarys has already destroyed more than 1,200 hectares of land, authorities said on Tuesday.

Farming land has been lost in the forest fire which started on Sunday.

Residents in the village of Aula de la Naturaleza had to be evacuated because the flames were so close and an old people's home had to be cleared because of the huge smoke cloud which is hanging over much of the island.

Five helicopters, dropping water on the blaze, and teams of fire fighters have been working through the night to try to bring the blaze under control.

Two fire fighting planes from the ministry of environment joined forces with colleagues from other nearby islands, La Gomera, La Palma, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

One of the helicopters sent from La Palma crashed 300 metres in front of the flames and her crew had to flee.

The aircraft finally went up in the blaze.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news

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