Three people lost their lives in a fire in Spain

Three people lost their lives, over 20 are injured and 13,000 hectares of land have been burnt in two fires blazed on Sunday in northeastern of Spain, on the border with France.

Authorities of Catalonia believe the fires might have been caused by negligence.

Two of the victims, French citizens, were father and daughter.

To extinguishing operations, hampered by strong winds, participate Spanish and French firefighters and soldiers.

Two of the victims, including one minor, were on a road and tried to escape the flames jumping into the sea in the area of Portbou.

The third person, aged 75 years, suffered a heart attack and died in hospital.

Several roads and highways have been closed, and the fire affects also the high-speed train tunnel which stood nearby.

Traffic between Spain and France was interrupted both by road, and by rail.

The fire broke out in the region of Girona, at La Jonquera and Portbou border and wreak havoc.

Authorities have said that the disaster is the result of human negligence, leaving hinted that an unquenchable cigarette discarded on the side of the road could be one of the causes.

Wind and nightfall have hindered operations of isolation and fire-fighting.

The regional government has activated an emergency plan and several villages in the region have made available shelters for the affected.

Translated by Anamaria Petrache
MTTLC, Bucharest University