Nuclear plant evacuated as forest fire approaches in northeastern Spain
Nuclear plant evacuated as forest fire approaches in northeastern Spain
11 April 2006
published by planetsave.com
MADRID, Spain — A nuclear power plant in northeastern Spain evacuated its employees and activated an emergency protection plan Tuesday as firefighters battled a forest fire raging nearby, news reports said.
Flames came as close as 100 meters (yards) to the Vandellos nuclear plant, which had suspended operations the previous week for unrelated technical reasons, the state news agency Efe reported.
Strong winds hindered helicopters and water-carrying planes trying to extinguish the fire, Efe said.
The fire had already burned more than 1,000 hectares of pine forest and brushland the Tarragona province since it started at around 5 p.m. (1500GMT) on Monday, Efe said.
About 140 people who had been staying in camping sites in the area were evacuated on Monday. A highway and a railroad were reopened after being closed due to the fire.
