Firefighters battle 15 forest fires in Spain

Over 500 firefighters backed by planes and helicopters battled 15 wildfires Wednesday in Spain's northern Cantabria region amid hot dry conditions that fuelled them, the regional government said. Eight water-dropping aircraft were deployed to fight the largest blaze near the town of Corrales de Buelna, a statement said. The region has suffered over 150 wildfires since Friday which have burned over 650 hectares (1,600 acres). "Today was a day of high temperatures, of weak winds that changed direction frequently and low air humidity. No change in weather conditions is expected over the coming days," the statement said. Spain is struggling through its driest winter since the 1940s, according to the national weather office. Crops have dried up and the familiar summer fires have come months early.