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1 person dead, 1 missing in Spanish wildfire
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-29 03:30

MADRID: A regional environment ministry spokeswoman says one man has been killed and a woman is missing after a wildfire swept across woodland near the central city of Avila.

Maria Jesus Ruiz says the man died after his home in Arenas de San Pedro was engulfed by flames. She says the missing woman may be related to him.

Ruiz said at a press conference Thursday that around 200 firefighters and 22 aircraft have been deployed to combat the fire.

Ministry officials calculate that around 24,000 hectares have been charred by fires that have killed six people in just over a week.