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Spanish wildfires kill father and daughter Spanish wildfires kill father and daughter
(40 minutes later)
A French family of five jumped off a seaside cliff in a desperate attempt to escape a raging wildfire, with the father and one of his children plummeting some 50m to their deaths, authorities said on Monday. A French family of five jumped off a seaside cliff in a desperate attempt to escape a raging wildfire, with the father and one of his children plummeting 50 metres to their deaths, authorities have said
Flames forced the family and about 150 other tourists out of their cars on Sunday night as most were returning home to France, and the group scrambled down hillsides towards the beach in the border town of Portbou on the Costa Brava to escape the blaze, said deputy mayor Elisabet Cortaba. Flames forced the family and about 150 other tourists out of their cars on Sunday night as most were returning home to France, and the group scrambled down hillsides towards the beach in the border town of Portbou on the Costa Brava to escape the blaze, said deputy mayor Elisabet Cortaba on Monday.
The French family of five got separated from the rest of the group on their way down and ended up at the cliff with no way out as the fire fanned by heavy winds approached them, Cortaba said. The French family got separated from the rest of the group on their way down and ended up at the cliff with no way out as the fire fanned by heavy winds approached them, Cortaba said.
"The fire started to close in on them and they couldn't climb up or climb down," she said after speaking with witnesses. "The only way out was to jump into the sea.""The fire started to close in on them and they couldn't climb up or climb down," she said after speaking with witnesses. "The only way out was to jump into the sea."
The 60-year-old father died instantly after landing on rocks, and his 15-year-old daughter drowned, Cortaba said. The mother was in critical condition on Monday with a back injury, and the son and other daughter did not suffer life-threatening injuries. All were fished out of the sea by Portbou boaters and their identities were not released, Cortaba said. The 60-year-old father died instantly after landing on rocks, and his 15-year-old daughter drowned, Cortaba said. The mother was in critical condition with a back injury, while the son and other daughter did not suffer life-threatening injuries. All were fished out of the sea by Portbou boaters and their identities were not released.
Two other people were also killed by the weekend fires in northeastern Spain that have burned across 35 square miles, including one man who had a heart attack dousing flames around his home. Spanish media said both of those victims were also French. Two other people were also killed by the weekend fires in northeastern Spain that have burned across 35 sq miles (9,000 hectares), including one man who had a heart attack dousing flames around his home. Spanish media said both of those victims were also French.
Many of the tourists that made it to the beach in Portbou suffered injuries ranging from broken bones and burns in their dash down the hillsides, Cortaba said.Many of the tourists that made it to the beach in Portbou suffered injuries ranging from broken bones and burns in their dash down the hillsides, Cortaba said.
The fires that broke out on Sunday in several parts of the Catalonia region forced more than 1,400 people to stay the night in shelters.The fires that broke out on Sunday in several parts of the Catalonia region forced more than 1,400 people to stay the night in shelters.
Train services in the region were suspended and several cross-border roads linking Barcelona with France were closed on Sunday because of the advancing flames.Train services in the region were suspended and several cross-border roads linking Barcelona with France were closed on Sunday because of the advancing flames.
Santiago Villa, mayor of Figueres, which houses the famous Salvador Dali museum, said he had ordered the city's 44,000 residents to stay indoors until further notice. Santiago Villa, mayor of Figueres, which houses the Salvador Dalí museum, said he had ordered the city's 44,000 residents to stay indoors until further notice.
The fire service said that more than 80 teams had been deployed to combat the wildfires.The fire service said that more than 80 teams had been deployed to combat the wildfires.
The interior ministry said that it had sent three specially equipped aircraft and an emergency unit to aid firefighters.The interior ministry said that it had sent three specially equipped aircraft and an emergency unit to aid firefighters.
A north wind called the Tramontana is a regular feature in mountainous northeastern Spain, and its strong gusts that often exceed 100 mph can spread fires rapidly across the heavily forested area. A north wind called the Tramontana is a regular feature in mountainous north-east Spain, and its strong gusts that often exceed 100mph can spread fires rapidly across the heavily forested area.