Laurence Dollimore
AT least two are dead following the outbreak of an estimated 146 fires in Galicia.
Some 500 military personnel have been rushed to scenes in northwest Spain to tackle the inferno which began over the weekend.
The fires were fanned by the strong winds from Hurricane Ophelia.
Vigo is under siege form the flames as hundreds of people are being evacuated.
The bodies of the two victims, so far not identified, were found by firemen inside a van that had been travelling along a road through blazing woods in the Nigrán area of Pontevedra province.
Images on social networks appeared to show the blaze close to Vigo’s city centre.
The president of Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, condemned what he described as the ‘murderous’ acts of ‘fire starters’, pleading with those responsible for ‘a minimum of sensitivity and responsibility’.
“My commiserations and pain to the victims. My abhorrence to the fire starters. Galicia supports the [firefighting] teams; they not only put out fires, but they save lives,” Núñez Feijóo tweeted.
More to follow…
