Three dead, homes evacuated as heatwave and fires hit Spain

MADRID (AFP) Aug 02, 2003
A Spanish man has died from heatstroke in the south of the country, bringing to the death toll from a heatwave to three, national radio reported Saturday, as thousands fled homes threatened by wildfires.

A 36-year-old man died in the southern Spanish city of Grenada after being admitted to hospital with heatstroke on Friday, the hottest day yet in a summer marked by sweltering climes.

Friday was the hottest day in Madrid since a historic high of 1993, with temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit). Seville recorded a sweltering 48 degrees, and in Cordoba it was 46 degrees.

In the capital Madrid over a hundred mainly elderly people were admitted to hospital after fainting or suffering from dehydration.

Two other people, a 76-year-old woman from Cordoba and a middle-aged man from Seville, both in the south of Spain, died on Friday because of the heat.

Meanwhile, 1,500 houses in Albalate de Zorita, 70 kilometres (45 miles) east of Madrid, were evacuated Friday evening as forest and brush fires raged for a second day.

According to Vicente Obispo, mayor of neighbouring Buendia, the fire has destroyed 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) since starting on Thursday.

The regional environment minister said that the heatwave had helped spread the flames but that the fires had calmed slightly by Saturday morning.

The blaze, which started for unknown reasons, had come to within a few kilometres of the Zorita nuclear power station, although press reports said the plant was protected by a river and surrounding wasteland.

Another fire started by lightning at Jerez de los Caballeros in the southwest of the country destroyed 800 to 900 hectares of forest and brush.

Yet another fire at a rubbish dump 100 kilometres northwest of the capital led to three residential areas and four campsites being evacuated, but it too had been brought under control Saturday, according to firemen.

The heatwave, caused by a mass of hot air sweeping up from Africa, has hit the country as over eight million Spanish holidaymakers hit the roads and head for the coast at the start of the summer break.

The authorities have advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun as well as rigorous exercise.

The meteorological office said that the heatwave would last until early next week, with a slight drop in temperatures expected over the weekend.

TERRA.WIRE