Forest fire engulfs Canary Island villages

A forest fire engulfed part of the Canary Island of La Gomera, forcing the evacuation of about 200 people, officials said tonight.

Residents of the villages of Chipude and El Cercado were moved for their own protection as firefighters tackled the blaze, which was about a mile wide, said Casimiro Curbelo, head of the island’s government.