麻豆影视

Skip to main content

High winds drive major wildfire in Spain; 35 aircraft sent

Clouds of smoke cover the sky during a wildfire near Bejis, eastern Spain, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) Clouds of smoke cover the sky during a wildfire near Bejis, eastern Spain, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Share
MADRID -

A wildfire burning out of control in Spain's eastern province of Valencia has become one of the country's biggest this year, and 35 aircraft have been deployed as the blaze entered its fifth day, authorities said Friday.

The blaze has already scorched more than 19,000 hectares along a 137-kilometre perimeter. Rain boosted hopes the fire could be brought under control on Thursday but strong winds have made the fire "very aggressive," the Valencian regional government said.

Four people were still hospitalized after suffering severe burns Wednesday when several passengers tried to jump off a train that had stopped and tried to go back amid surrounding flames. The train had inadvertently headed into the fast-spreading wildfire.

Regional government head Ximo Puig has requested a report from the firefighting services to clarify why the train was allowed to proceed through the burning area.

Spain has been hit harder than any other European country by forest fires this year, according to the European Commission's Copernicus Earth observation program. This year, wildfires in Spain have burned four times more land than they did during the last decade.

Up to early August, 43 large wildfires -- those affecting at least 500 hectares -- were recorded in the Mediterranean country, while the average in previous years was 11.

The European Forest Fire Information System estimates Spain has seen 284,764 hectares (704,000 acres) burn this year -- four times higher than the average since records began in 2006.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.