In a severe forest fire in Tennessee burned 3 people

The mayor of Tennessee reported that 3 people were killed in the wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in the area of the great smoky mountains.

Mayor Larry Walters said on Tuesday afternoon that he had no information about the victims. The mayor said that the authorities gather for an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. About a dozen people were injured during the fire. Gatlinburg mayor Mike Werner reported that the fire are still hot spots, and fighting fires.

Wildfires fueled by strong winds. Thousands of people were evacuated from the popular resort cities in Tennessee on the border of the National Park great smoky. The fire damaged hundreds of buildings. Tuesday morning on a scene there has arrived the national guard to help firefighters fight the fire. In some areas it started to rain, but experts predicted that it spilled is not enough to end the merciless drought, which has spread to several southern States, including Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.

According to the affiliate WVLT-TV, at least 14 thousand people were evacuated as of Tuesday morning, including the 16-storey hotel, which remains in the fire. Still, there were several injuries. Tennessee officials reported that hundreds of homes and other buildings, including the 16-storey hotel were damaged or destroyed by fire. Information about the death of animals was not reported, although several people were injured, said the firemen.

Drought conditions are likely to continue, authorities said. The problem lies in the fact that the rainfall was from 10 to 15 inches below normal for the last three months in many areas in the South, authorities said.

sections: Accidents, World News