Catalonia wildfires kill four, Croatia evacuates tourists – Most devastating fires in more than 20 years
By Iciar Reinlein, Nigel Davies, Sarah White, Daniel Alvarenga, and Igor Ilic; Writing by Alison Williams; Editing by Andrew Osborn
23 July 2012 MADRID (Reuters) – Two big forest fires raging in the border area between France and northern Catalonia in Spain have killed a fourth person, the authorities said on Monday, as erratic winds hindered efforts to control the blaze. The fires broke out on Sunday, affecting Spain’s Costa Brava, one of the country’s most popular beach destinations, as well as major motorways used by holidaymakers driving to and from southern France. Ash from the blaze has also begun to reach the Barcelona area. Wildfires have broken out in other parts of southern Europe in the past few days. On Monday, Croatia evacuated tourists near a coastal village and thick smoke forced the closure of the main coastal road linking the northern and central Adriatic. Last week, fire swept through forests near Athens, and villagers had to be evacuated from their homes on the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. The fires in the Spanish province of Girona, Catalonia, are the area’s most devastating in well over 20 years, the local government said, and Environment Ministry data show 2012 is already the worst year for forest fires in Spain for more than a decade. All four victims were French, the government of Catalonia and the fire service said. The fourth victim was a 64-year-old man who died of burns on Monday. On Sunday, a father and his 15-year-old daughter died after trying to escape the flames by descending a cliffside in Portbou, a coastal town where one of the fires broke out. A man died of a heart attack further inland near La Junquera, a border town at the epicenter of the biggest blaze. The Catalan government said at least 23 people had been injured. Strong winds, sometimes reaching 80 kph (50 mph), hindered efforts to keep the fires in check overnight. Although they had calmed by morning, gusts were still swirling erratically. The fire has affected an area of 13,000 hectares inland, and burned through about 200 hectares near Portbou. Some 150,000 residents inland have been told to stay at home. […]
