Wildfires see thousands evacuated and roads cut off in Spain

A SERIES of wildfires continue to blaze in Spain.

More than 1600 people have so far been evacuated in Extremadura where 5000 hectares are ablaze in the Sierra de Gata mountains.

It is feared that dozens of horses, donkeys and goats have died in the fire, suspected to have been started by arson.

The fire, which has been burning for three days, started in the village of Acabo.

Planes, helicopters and 300 firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which has cut off dozens of roads.

Fires also continue to blaze in Murcia, around Lorca, which was hit by a disastrous earthquake two years ago.

Due to a series of heatwaves the south of Spain is extremely dry.

So far, Andalucia has seen 12,000 hectares destroyed by fire, 2000 more than the average for a year.