Wildfire burns into the night in western Spain

STORY: Emergency crew evacuated around 600 villagers from the area as 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.

People from three villages - Cadalso, Descargamaría and Robledillo de Gata - were evacuated and three roads in the area were closed, according to authorities, who also said up to 260 firefighters and 165 soldiers were fighting the blaze.

Guillermo Fernandez Vara, president of the Extremadura region, said efforts to control it were being hampered by winds gusting at up to 35 miles per hour (60 kph) and by the forested landscape.