MADRID: A fires out of control fire in the eastern province of Valence has become one of the most important this year Spainhaving already burned more than 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) along a 120 km (75 mile) perimeter, authorities said on Friday.
Some 35 planes were deployed as the blaze entered its fifth day. Rain boosted hopes the blaze could be brought under control on Thursday, but high winds made it “very aggressive”, said the head of justice for the regional government of Valencia.
Five people remain hospitalized after suffering severe burns on Wednesday when several passengers attempted to jump from a stopped train and attempted to return amid surrounding flames. The train had inadvertently steered into the rapidly spreading forest fire.
Head of regional government Ximo Puig asked for a report fire fighting services to clarify why the train was allowed to pass through the burning area.
This year, forest fires in Spain have burned four times more than in the last decade.
Until early August, 43 large forest fires – those affecting at least 500 hectares (1,235 acres) – were recorded in the Mediterranean country by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, while the average for previous years was 11.
The European Forest Fire Information System estimates a burnt area of 284,764 hectares (704,000 acres) in Spain this year. This is four times more than the average since recordings began in 2006.
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