The train, en route from Sagunto in the eastern province of Valencia, to Zaragoza, stopped while the driver, seeing that the fire meant it was too dangerous to proceed, prepared to reverse the train. Some passengers, fearing the train would be destroyed by fire, panicked and fled after breaking windows to escape. Two of those with the most serious burns were airlifted away while others, including a young girl of about 10, were taken to nearby hospitals. A 58-year-old woman is among those who suffered the worst burns after escaping the train, according to emergency services. The train, carrying 48 passengers, stopped and before the driver could get away from the fire, several passengers broke the windows and escaped onto the tracks. “As soon as they saw that they were surrounded by fire, they got back on the train and several of them suffered burns,” said a spokesman for Spanish rail company Renfe. Valencia’s president, Ximo Puig, said more than 1,000 people had been evacuated from their homes as strong winds fanned the flames in Bejís, Valencia, adding that two firefighters also suffered burns. Valencia is the latest region to experience severe forest fires during Spain’s prolonged heatwave which has destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of forest land. The Bejís fire has already consumed 800 hectares (1,900 acres), while elsewhere in the province the Vall d’Ebo fire continues to burn out of control after destroying 11,000 hectares of forest.
