Galicia fires spread to Asturias: 27 alight in neighbouring region

Emergency workers in the Principality of Asturias have managed to extinguish eight wildfires so far, and have reduced from seven to three the number of 'priority' sites.

The most urgent in Asturias now are the blazes in the Fondos de Vega area of Degaña, the Seroiro area of Ibias – both of which are close to the Muniellos Biosphere Reserve – and in the Corondeño area of Allande.

Improvements in the situation mean over 50 residents evacuated in the early hours of Monday in Larón, La Viliella and Gillón in the Cangas del Narcea district have been able to return to their homes, and the AS-15 regional highway has reopened.

The regional government has declared a pre-emergency for air pollution in the city of Gijón, and schools have been out since yesterday, although expected to return today (Tuesday).

Smoke, rather than flames, is hindering ground forces, and of the dozens of hydroplanes and helicopters throwing water down from the air, only one has been able to get near the town of Tabladiello in the Cangas del Narcea district.

Real Oviedo FC has cancelled training sessions due yesterday and today as a result of regional authorities' recommendation not to carry out any physical activity in the open air.

High-profile native, Formula 1 racing driver Fernando Alonso, has called for 'much harsher laws' to punish arsonists who start wildfires.

Even with 27 still burning, the situation in Asturias remains less dramatic than in its western neighbour, Galicia, where up to 80 were alight over the weekend and, of those left, 14 present an imminent danger to the population.

Four people have already died, including two women trying to escape in a van in the town of Nigrán (Pontevedra province) who found themselves surrounded by a wall of flames on the road.

Their charred bodies were found in the wreckage of the burnt-out vehicle late on Sunday.