Spain says 'the battle against the flames is coming to an end'

The Spanish government on Tuesday described wildfires that have swept the country as one of the country's worst environmental disasters in years, as it approved relief measures for affected areas. Blazes that flared across Spain this month have ravaged over 350,000 hectares, killed four people and forced thousands of people to temporarily evacuate.

The Interior Minister told a news conference after a weekly cabinet meeting that " they are facing one of the biggest environmental catastrophes in recent years". The cabinet declared areas hit by the wildfires a disaster area, a move that unlocks direct aid, tax breaks and other assistance for affected communities.