Thousand of people across Spain are battling deadly wildfires amid extremely hot weather, with thousands deployed in an effort to quell the blazes.
The Spanish military has added 500 new soldiers to the battle against the fires, bringing the total number of troops aiding local firefighters to around 4,000. Despite this, temperatures continue to pose a major challenge for emergency responders.
Twenty-three active fires are considered particularly serious, with many in the northwest of Spain. The country is experiencing one of its worst fire seasons on record due to climate change, which has exacerbated the situation.
The government has warned that the situation could worsen quickly. Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that the heat wave’s impact will last until it subsides, and this year’s fires have “different characteristics” due to changing weather patterns.
European allies are also providing support, including firefighters from France, Germany, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. Air support is also being provided by Italian aircraft.
Over 31,000 people have been evacuated, and 31 people arrested in connection with the fires. The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail has been closed due to the wildfires.
Temperatures have cooled slightly in Galicia, but a hot spell lasting over two weeks is expected to continue until Monday.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/world/europe/spain-wildfires-europe-heat.html