More evacuations as Spanish wildfire blazes for fifth day

ESTEPONA: Andalusia's regional government said on Sunday two more towns would be evacuated as a wildfire continues to rage close to a popular Costa del Sol resort.

Fanned by strong winds and high late-summer temperatures, the flames have driven over 1,000 people from their homes and killed one emergency worker since they erupted on Wednesday in the mountainous Sierra Bermeja above Estepona, a Mediterranean resort favoured by British tourists and retirees. The government announced on Sunday emergency services had ordered the "preventative evacuation" of the towns of Jubrique, population over 500, and Genalguacil, population around 400, where residents on Saturday had been confined to their homes because of the low-lying smoke in the area.