Spain to declare centre disaster zone

Spain will declare a disaster zone in a region ravaged by a wildfire that killed 11 fire-fighters, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said yesterday.

The declaration will make the fire-blackened area in Guadalajara province, 150 kilometres east of Madrid, eligible for government aid to help it recover from one of Spain's worst environmental disasters.

Mr Zapatero made a surprise visit to the region yesterday immediately after he returned from a trip to China.

"The government will declare a disaster zone for all this area," Mr Zapatero told reporters.

The fire scorched 13,000 hectares and killed 11 fire-fighters on July 17 when they were trapped by a wall of flame.

Mr Zapatero said he would meet the mayors of all towns in the area and other regional officials tomorrow to draw up a recovery plan as well as aid and economic incentives to get the region back on its feet.