Two firefighters die in Spanish forest fires

Two firefighters have been killed battling flames tearing through woodland in northwestern Spain.

Like neighbouring Portugal, the country is regularly hit by forest fires in the summer months.

High temperatures, recklessness and often arsonists are to blame. And, like Portugal, those in the front line of the firefighting effort, have paid with their lives.

Both firemen died overnight in the Spanish region of Galicia in a blaze that started near an old landfill.

It did not seem dangerous at first but the flames changed direction, fanned by the wind.

This blaze was later brought under control. But just over the border in the massive Portuguese national park of Peneda-Geres, flames are still raging.

Authorities had to evacuate a small mountain village, moving around 100 people to safety.

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