Wildfires continue in Spain and Portugal
In the past week, about 20 wildfires have destroyed huge areas in the regions of Galicia and Castile and Leon in the north of Spain. Another 500 soldiers have been put in place to support firefighters tackling the fires across Spain bringing the total number of troops deployed to around 1,900.More than 343,000 hectares (848,000 acres) of land, which is the same as nearly half a million football pitches and about two times as big as London, have been destroyed this year in Spain. According to the European Fire Information System (EFFIS) this is a new national record. Portugal, a country that borders Spain, has also been tackling wildfires since late July. Around 2,000 firefighters were sent out to the north and centre of the country on Monday.The EFFIS reported that Portugal's wildfires had burned about 216,000 hectares of land.
While wildfires are common across southern Europe in the summer, they can be made worse by heatwaves and droughts. Meteorologists who study the weather say extreme weather is becoming worse and more frequent due to human-made climate change and a report from Spain's weather agency says climate change is making the weather harsher.Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the country had endured 24 days of weather conditions of "unprecedented severity", where a combination of high temperatures and strong winds has made the fires worse. Both Spain and Portugal have also been offered or is receiving help from nearby countries such as France, Italy, Germany and Netherlands including firefighters and fire-fighting planes.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Spain battles record wildfires even as temperatures begin to fall
Spain is continuing to grapple with one of the country's most destructive fire seasons in recent decades, even as temperatures begin to fall across the Iberian Peninsula. Thousands of firefighters, supported by military personnel and water-bombing aircraft, continued to fight fires tearing through parched woodland on Tuesday. The situation remains particularly critical in northwestern Spain, especially the Galicia region, where the country's weather agency AEMET reported a still 'very high or extreme' fire risk. The fires in Galicia have ravaged small, sparsely populated towns, forcing locals in many cases to step in before firefighters arrive. Firefighting units from Germany arrived in northern Spain on Tuesday to help fight the blazes, Spain's Interior Ministry announced. More than 20 vehicles were deployed to help fight an ongoing blaze in Jarilla in the Extremadura region that borders Portugal, the ministry said. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was expected to visit Jarilla later on Tuesday. The fires in Spain, which have killed 4 people this year, have burned more than 382,000 hectares or about 1,475 square miles according to the European Union 's European Forest Fire Information System. That surface area is more than twice the size of metropolitan London. Many fires have been triggered by human activity. Police have detained 23 people for suspected arson and are investigating 89 more, Spain's Civil Guard said Tuesday. In Portugal, more than 3,700 firefighters were tackling blazes, including four major ones in the north and centre. Wildfires there have burned about 235,000 hectares or 907 square miles, according to EFFIS — nearly five times more than the 2006-2024 average for this period. Two people have died. Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists say that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in parts of Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Brits really DO love complaining about the weather! Average UK resident whines about the elements for two days a YEAR, study reveals
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Spain battles record fires even as end of heatwave brings lower temperatures
Spain tackled several major wildfires on Tuesday in one of the country's most destructive fire seasons in recent decades, despite temperatures dropping across the Iberian Peninsula. Thousands of firefighters aided by soldiers and water-bombing aircraft continued to fight fires tearing through parched woodland that were especially severe in northwestern Spain, where the country's weather agency AEMET reported a still 'very high or extreme' fire risk — particularly in the Galicia region. The fires in Galicia have ravaged small, sparsely populated towns, forcing locals in many cases to step in before firefighters arrive. Firefighting units from Germany arrived in northern Spain on Tuesday to help fight the blazes, Spain's Interior Ministry announced. More than 20 vehicles were deployed to help fight an ongoing blaze in Jarilla in the Extremadura region that borders Portugal, the ministry said. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was expected to visit Jarilla later on Tuesday. The fires in Spain, which have killed 4 people this year, have burned more than 382,000 hectares or about 1,475 square miles according to the European Union's European Forest Fire Information System. That surface area is more than twice the size of metropolitan London. Many fires have been triggered by human activity. Police have detained 23 people for suspected arson and are investigating 89 more, Spain's Civil Guard said Tuesday. In Portugal, more than 3,700 firefighters were tackling blazes, including 4 major ones in the north and center. Wildfires there have burned about 235,000 hectares or 907 square miles, according to EFFIS — nearly 5 times more than the 2006-2024 average for this period. Two people there have died. Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists say that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in parts of Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
