Two die in forest fires

28 July 2004

MADRID – Two people were burnt to death after they were trapped in raging fires that have destroyed vast swathes of land in several parts of Spain, officials said Wednesday.

Flames were leaping up to 20 metres (almost 70 feet) into the air in some areas around Huelva, in southwestern Spain, where several thousand hectares of land have been burnt to a cinder.

The two victims were trapped in their car in the fire that broke out on Tuesday near Huelva and was also threatening local wildlife.

Police said they suspected arson.

Fires in the northwestern region of Galicia have also scorched more than 1,000 hectares (almost 2,500 acres) of land.
 
On Monday, officials said four people had died as a result of the heatwave sweeping parts of Spain, taking the total death toll this summer to 11.

Exceptionally hot weather killed at least 141 people in Spain last year.
 
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news