A wildfire outside Madrid sends a cloud of smoke over the Spanish capital
The fire broke out in the town of Mentrida in central Spain's Castile-La Mancha region about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the capital. Local authorities urged residents to stay home and close their windows.
Spanish authorities said the blaze had burned around 3,000 hectares (roughly 7,400 acres) by the late evening.
Large parts of Spain are under heat and fire warnings, with temperatures on Thursday reaching 37 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in Madrid.
Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, especially in southeastern Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kashmir's growing heat crisis hits health and harvests
Zaina Begum stood helplessly next to her withering paddy field. A farmer in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pulwama district, she had been waiting for rainfall for more than a month, hoping to save her crop from dying. So when it finally rained earlier this week, she was hopeful. "But it was already too late by then," she said. "Our land had completely dried up." An intense heatwave has gripped Kashmir, a picturesque Himalayan region dotted with glaciers and known for its cool climate, as temperatures have soared to record-breaking levels this month. The region recorded its highest daytime temperature in 70 years at 37.4C (99.32F) - at least 7C above the seasonal average. The valley also witnessed its hottest June in 50 years, prompting authorities to shut down schools and colleges for two weeks. Some respite came earlier this week after parts of the region received heavy rains, but experts say the relief is temporary and warn of even higher temperatures in the coming days. The changing weather patterns have had a devastating impact on locals, most of whom rely on farming for their livelihoods. Many are struggling to stay in the business, while others complain about a drop in the quality of the produce, causing them huge losses. Ms Begum's family has been cultivating paddy - a highly water-intensive crop - for decades on their one-acre land (4046 sq m) in Chersoo village. But they haven't had a single batch of healthy harvest in the last five years, as rains have become progressively more erratic, she said. "This summer, it feels like our worst fears have come true," she added. "We have nothing left." According to a 2021 study, the maximum temperature in the Kashmir rose by 2C between 1980 and 2020, indicating an average rise of 0.5C rise per decade. Mukhtar Ahmad, head of the Indian weather department's centre in Srinagar city, said the region had already witnessed three heatwaves this season, causing major rivers and streams to dry up. The signs of damage were visible everywhere. In Bandipore district, rows of wilted apple trees dot Ali Mohammad's 15-acre field. Twenty years ago, he decided to turn land, where he grew paddy, into an apple orchard because he felt the weather and water supplies had become too unreliable for growing rice. But now, even his apple crop - which typically requires less water - is struggling to survive. "The orchards need water at least three times a month, but for the last two months there was no rain and the irrigation canals dried up," he said. The scorching heat has also taken a toll on residents, who are unaccustomed to living in such high temperatures. "I have never witnessed such an intense heatwave in my life," said 63-year-old Parveez Ahmad, who lives in northern Kashmir. A few days ago, Mr Ahmad had to be rushed to the hospital after he complained of severe breathlessness. "The doctors told me it was caused by the heat and humidity," he said. Environmentalists say that climate change has been impacting the region, causing extreme weather events and prolonged dry spells in both winter and summer. Last year, the snow-clad mountains in the region stayed oddly brown and barren for months, after a prolonged delay in the annual snowfall. While warmer winters have led to reduced snowfall, hotter summers have sped up the melting of glaciers, disrupting the availability of water and putting human health and crops at risk, said Mohammad Farooq Azam, a glaciologist and hydrologist. "These trends are not just seasonal anomalies - they represent a systemic shift that could have long-term consequences for water security, agriculture and biodiversity in Kashmir," Mr Azam added. Mr Azam explained that most of Kashmir's winter rain and snow come from western disturbances - storms that form over the Mediterranean and move eastward. But these systems have become weaker and less frequent, leading to reduced snowfall and delays in snowmelt. "This exposes the bare ground sooner than usual, which absorbs more heat. As glaciers shrink and snow cover reduces, the land reflects less sunlight and traps more heat, making the region even warmer," he said. Jasia Bashir, a professor at the Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipora district, points out that Kashmir contributes very little to global carbon emissions, as it has limited industry and relies mostly on agriculture and tourism. Yet, the region is being hit hard by climate change - making it a victim of a crisis it played little part in creating, she said. "This tells you how climate change is a global phenomenon, not restricted to any particular region." That said, the region has also witnessed rapid urbanisation in recent years. Vast farmlands and forests have been replaced with concrete buildings, reducing the region's ability to naturally regulate the local climate. According to a report by Global Forest Watch (GFW), the wider Jammu and Kashmir region lost nearly 0.39% of its total tree cover between 2001 and 2023 due to deforestation and forest fires. In addition, government figures reveal that more than 600,000 trees have been felled in Kashmir over the last five years after being identified as river encroachments. Ms Bashir said urban areas of Kashmir were also experiencing higher energy demands, especially for air conditioners, which has increased the greenhouse gas emissions. "This sets off a vicious cycle: rising temperatures lead to greater energy use, which fuels more emissions and further warming," she added. Critics say that despite the growing risks, environmental issues rarely make headlines and are still not a priority for Kashmir's politicians. Tanvir Sadiq, the spokesperson for the region's elected government, denied this and said the administration was taking the problem of climate change "very seriously". "Climate change is a global phenomenon and the government alone cannot tackle it," he added. "Still, we are exploring all available options to minimise its impact on the people." But for farmers like Ms Begum, any action must happen quickly. "Otherwise, we will be doomed," she said. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Oregon wildfire burns almost 100K acres, approaching rare megafire status
The country's largest wildfire this year has burned over 95,740 acres, fire officials in central Oregon said Sunday, as ground crews made progress to partially contain a blaze that could still intensify to become a so-called megafire. The size of the Cram Fire was adjusted slightly downward from Saturday after "more accurate mapping" was completed, officials said. They added that the massive blaze — which has drawn more than 900 fire personnel, destroyed a handful of homes and prompted evacuations in two counties — was 49% contained after crews struggled to keep back the flames last week. "Yesterday was another favorable day with us with the weather, and so a lot of good work was done," Scott Stutzman, operations section chief of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, said Sunday in a Facebook video. "We'll have those crews out there continuing to maintain a presence mopping up, and also assisting our wildland partners on the perimeter." Cooler temperatures and higher humidity over the weekend are expected to continue early this week, potentially aiding firefighting efforts, but the sheer size of the fire has been staggering: If it grows to at least 100,000 acres, it would be classified as a megafire, becoming the first one in the U.S. in 2025, said Stanton Florea, a spokesman with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which coordinates the country's wildland firefighting operations. Oregon saw six wildfires reach megafire status last year, federal data shows. The phenomenon is considered rare, but it has grown in frequency as wildfires in general become more widespread and intense. Megafires "are more common now," Florea said. "We're having longer fire seasons — what we're calling, the 'fire year.' And more intense fires that are lasting longer." So far this year, there have been 40,934 wildfires, the highest year-to-date total in at least a decade, according to National Interagency Fire Center data. But of the 1.6 million wildfires that have occurred since 2000, just 254 exceeded 100,000 acres burned, and only 16 were at least 500,000 acres, a Congressional Research Service report said in 2023. "A small fraction of wildfires become catastrophic, and a small percentage of fires accounts for the vast majority of acres burned," the service said. "For example, about 1% of wildfires become conflagrations — raging, destructive fires — but predicting which fires will 'blow up' into conflagrations is challenging and depends on a multitude of factors, such as weather and geography." The higher chance of extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged drought and strong winds, is being fueled by human-caused global warming, recent reports indicate. That means wildfires may not only ignite suddenly, but also strengthen in magnitude at a furious pace. The Cram Fire, which led to evacuations in parts of Jefferson and Wasco counties, began a week ago, exploding amid extremely hot, dry and windy conditions in the West. The cause remains under investigation. Florea said the Pacific Northwest is the highest-priority area in the country at the moment, with the country's wildland firefighting resources being directed there, including to help battle at least nine large fires burning in Oregon. Such heavy demand means officials must prioritize how resources are used. An increase in the number of wildfires strains the system and the fatigued crews who work around-the-clock shifts, Florea added. While 88 engines and eight helicopters continue to be deployed to prevent the Cram Fire from spreading, the Oregon State Fire Marshal said Sunday it would begin modifying its response as containment improves. At least four homes and two other structures have been destroyed so far. The fire is no longer threatening residences to the same degree, officials said. Kyle Butler, whose home in rural Jefferson County was nearly burned in the blaze, said one neighbor fled the flames with her life, but returned to find her home severely damaged. "Everything's gone," Butler told NBC affiliate KGW in Portland. "Her house is pretty much in shambles." This article was originally published on
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
See it: Aerial footage of Grand Canyon wildfire captures flames ravaging historic national park
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. – The Dragon Bravo Fire continues to burn along the north rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Dragon Bravo Fire began on the evening of July 12 and quickly spread to over 500 acres, according to the National Park Service (NPS). Fire managers were able to confirm the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and many other historic cabins amid the widespread flames. Footage captured by the Grand Canyon NPS reveals smoke from the fire along the north rim of the park. Parts of the land were stained by fire retardant dropped by an aircraft. Aerial bucket drops were conducted to slow the spread of the fire to the lodge but were unsuccessful due to wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph, according to NPS officials. An image of first responders at the historic lodge represents the aftermath of the devastating wildfire, which has spread to over 12,000 acres and is only 8% contained. Grand Canyon Lodge was once a great place to go for a firsthand view of the Grand Canyon from the north rim, and it will be hard to replace such an iconic venue. 3 Critically Endangered California Condors Relocated During Arizona White Sage Fire The north rim of the park will remain closed for the remainder of the 2025 article source: See it: Aerial footage of Grand Canyon wildfire captures flames ravaging historic national park
