Wildfires sweep northern Portugal and Spain

Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal and Spain.

In northern Portugal strong winds are hampering efforts to bring the blazes under control, with some fires reigniting. Authorities say mostly shrub and forest area have been affected, limiting the threat to property. However, one village in Spain was evacuated when flames crossed the border. The inferno brought trains to a standstill for several hours as crews backed by planes attempted to stop the fire touching the tracks. In Spain, army and emergency services have been battling a big blaze over an area of 50 kilometres in the province of Zaragoza. Helicopters and planes attempted to extinguish the burning forest, which was close to several towns. Spanish weather experts say the risk of further fires across the country, particularly in the north and Balearic islands, is high.More about: Fires, Portugal, Spain

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