WILDFIRES COULD BE ON WAY TO IRELAND NEXT...

Camino walkers urged to take caution on Spain pilgrimage

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

"A HUGE amount of damage" has been done to the Camino De Santiago by blazes as a wildfire warning has been issued for Ireland.

Spain has been devastated by one of its worst wildfire seasons in two decades, as some parts reached highs of 45°C over the past week.

And now Ireland is at "very high to extreme" danger of wildfires over the next week as those in southern Europe fizzle out, the EU's Joint Research Centre has warned.

Authorities in Spain had to close part of the popular pilgrimage route as fires have burned more than 285,000 acres in Galicia and Castile.

RESTRICTIONS

The path between the towns of Astorga and Ponferrada, which are 50km apart, were closed but have now been reopened.

However, Siobhan Quill, chairperson of the Camino Society Ireland, has warned walkers that there are still restrictions on certain routes.

She said: "There are still restrictions in particular in routes called Camino Sanabres and the Camino de Invierno.

"Both of those routes are linked and there are still restrictions down there.