Villagers evacuated as wildfire ravages woodlands in western Spain

A satellite image shows wildfire in Pinofranqueano, Spain, May 19, 2023. EUROPEAN UNION/COPERNICUS SENTINEL-2/Handout via REUTERS

MADRID (Reuters) -Emergency crews evacuated around 600 villagers in western Spain overnight as a wildfire blamed on arsonists ravaged up to 8,000 hectares (19,800 acres) near the border with Portugal, officials said.

Strong winds were making it harder to control the blaze in the densely forested areas of Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata in the Extremadura region, emergency services said on Friday.