Wildfire spreads near Marbella

Some 4,000 people were evacuated from their homes as a wildfire fanned by strong winds spread rapidly through hills around the popular southern Spanish tourist city of Marbella.

Regional Interior Ministry official Jose Luis Ruiz Espejo said the fire started early today outside the town of Coin.

Nearly all residents of the nearby town of Ojen were evacuated and given shelter in sports centres in the coastal resort of Marbella.

Mr Ruiz Espejo said firefighters suspect arson and they hope to bring the blaze under control by the end of the day.

Speaking on Cadena SER radio, Mr Ruiz Espejo said two people were injured, one seriously.

Spain has seen 580 square miles of land burned in nearly 12,000 wildfires this year.