Forest fire near Spain's border with France spreading

A forest fire on Spain's Mediterranean coast near the French border was spreading rapidly on Friday, fed by strong winds and surrounding a popular tourist site. The blaze in the Portbou area burned around 200 hectares in three hours and could spread over 400 hectares, the statement of the Catalonia's regional government.

Portbou, near the Franco-Spanish border, also has a major railway station used by both countries' networks. The blaze was difficult to extinguish due to the mountainous terrain, senior firefighter said. Some 230 firefighters from Spain and France backed by aircraft were fighting the blaze.