Firefighters battle to control wildfire in western Spain

STORY: Members of the UME worked to create firewalls and refresh the area in the early hours in an effort to contain a wildfire that has spread over 8,000 hectares (19,800 acres) near the border with Portugal.

Homes in three villages - Cadalso, Descargamaría and Robledillo de Gata - were evacuated on Friday (May 19) but local authorities are hopeful the slightly better weather conditions could help emergency units to control the wildfire soon.

Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite images showed huge plumes of smoke covering the wood area of Pinofranqueado.

A total of 493 fires destroyed a record 307,000 hectares in Spain last year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.