Fire in Switzerland's Valais forest

LOECHE, Switzerland (AFP) Aug 14, 2003
Hundreds of Swiss firefighters battled a forest fire in the country's southwest which broke out late Wednesday and quickly destroyed a 150 hectares, local police said.

No injuries were reported but 100 people were evacuated when the flames neared a holiday village near Loeche, in Haut-Valais.

Some 300 firefighters backed by two helicopters appeared to have got the blaze under control early Thursday, but the emergency services were to remain on alert throughout the night, police said.

Switzerland has been hit by a heatwave and drought over the last two months.

The all-time temperature record was beaten earlier this week as the heatwave currently being felt across Europe pushed the mercury above 40 degrees Celsius for the first time since records began.

MeteoSuisse weather service said temperatures had soared to 41.5 degrees on Monday in the town of Grono in the eastern district of Grisons.

TERRA.WIRE