Four major infernos in Castellón, Extremadura and Castilla y León

HUGE forest fires are burning out of control in the eastern and western extremes of the mainland, one of which has already wiped out over 1,000 hectares, or 10 million square metres.

This is the second-worst of four major infernos spreading unstoppably, having flared up in Artana (Castellón province) in the east, probably as a result of a bonfire, early yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.

It has reached the edge of the Sierra de Espadán mountain nature reserve and is said to have two active fronts, but is some distance from the nearest residential area.

Another dramatic blaze in the same region, in Tavernes de la Valldigna (Valencia province) broke out on Monday night, but was fully extinguished by mid-morning on Tuesday and did not affect any homes.

This fire may have been started by a firecracker, and the man who allegedly threw it has given a statement to the Guardia Civil.

A wildfire which broke out in El Galindo (Cáceres province) in the land-locked western region of Extremadura on Saturday remains active, having already destroyed double the amount of land as the one in Castellón, but is said to be more or less contained now.

The blaze which took hold in Vega de Tera (Zamora province), close to northern Portugal, forced emergency services to shut the A-52 motorway between 19.00hrs last night and 20.30hrs, between kilometre 30 and 49.

It is believed to be the work of arsonists, and has already razed 165 hectares of land as it continues to spread out of control.

And the inferno in Villarino de los Aires (Salamanca province) in the same region, Castilla y León, started in a woodland on Monday, but is said to now be under control.