Major blaze on Canary Islands

Strong winds were fanning fierce forest fires for a second day on the Canary Island of La Palma while a fresh outbreak has been detected on nearby La Gomera island, the Spanish government said today.

About 500 firefighters and seven aircraft have been deployed to battle flames around the town of Fuencaliente, from where some 4,000 residents had to be evacuated, regional Interior Ministry representative Carolina Darias said.

Safety spokesman Jose Miguel Ruano said the blazes have been so fierce they have forced many of the firefighters on the ground to retreat.

About 30 homes and some wineries have burned down.

Darias said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is due to visit later today.