Volunteer firefighter dies as wildfires rage across heat-stricken Spain
At least six large wildfires were still out of control on Wednesday, according to regional emergency services.
The victim, a 35-year old volunteer, had been attempting to create firebreaks near the town of Nogarejas, in the north-central Castile and Leon region, when he became trapped in the blaze, regional officials said.
The fire had two active fronts that were still out of control, as weather services forecast another day of strong winds and electric storms.
Over 5,000 people have been evacuated in the region, which is Spain's largest, and efforts were being concentrated on preventing the flames from reaching smaller towns.
Environment Minister Sara Aagesen told SER radio station that many fires across the country were suspected to be intentionally caused by arsonists due to their "virulence", but that it was too early to quantify these.
On Monday, another fire had killed a man working at a horse stable on the outskirts of the Spanish capital Madrid and reached some houses and farms before it was contained.
Northwestern Galicia's regional leader Alfonso Rueda said the situation there was "complicated" and that the weather "isn't helping", as six active fires affected a combined 10,000 hectares in Ourense province.
Weather agency AEMET forecast "extreme" risk of wildfires across Spain on Wednesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘Uncontrollable' wildfires kill mayor in Portugal
A former mayor has been killed in 'uncontrollable' wildfires in Portugal as firefighters continue to fight huge blazes and searing temperatures scorch much of southern Europe. Nearly 4,000 firefighters have been deployed on several fire fronts in Portugal, with the government extending a state of alert until Sunday. The government in Lisbon made a formal request for assistance from the EU's civil protection mechanism, a firefighting force that can be called upon by countries in need The wildfires in Portugal claimed the life of Carlos Dâmaso, a former mayor of the town of Vila Franca do Deão. He died while helping to fight a blaze, officials said. He had been reported missing, and his body was found on Friday. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Portugal's president, offered his 'heartfelt condolences'. Authorities warned the fires were out of control because of a lack of resources, with villages encircled by flames and firefighters hampered by strong winds. In Spain, Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, said the country was at 'extreme risk' of new wildfires, particularly in the north and west. Firefighters were battling 14 major blazes across the country, where seven people have died as a result of the fires. A recent heat wave brought temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) and is expected to last all weekend. In the northern region of Galicia, several fires merged and forced the closure of roads. Rail services between Galicia and Madrid would remain suspended 'until further notice', transport officials said. Police arrested two men on suspicion of starting fires in Castille and León. Wildfires that have raged across Spain have so far this year burned 610 square miles – an area roughly as big as London. In Portugal, Spain and Italy, Friday was the Feast of the Assumption, a major Catholic holiday in which people flock to the beach and hold family gatherings. In the past week there have also been devastating fires in France, Bulgaria, Albania and Montenegro. In Greece, a wildfire burned out of control for a fourth day on the island of Chios, prompting the evacuation of more villages. Two water-dropping planes and two helicopters were operating in the north of the Aegean island, a popular tourist destination. Firefighters were given some respite with a lull in the high winds that had been spreading the flames. A firefighter was injured near the city of Patras after falling into a ravine while battling a blaze. He was rescued by colleagues and taken to hospital with injuries to his back and legs.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Former mayor is killed trying to defend Portuguese town from wildfire inferno - as apocalyptic blazes rip through Europe, ravaging Spain and Greece turning them into a burning hellscape
The former mayor of a Portuguese town has died after trying to fight dramatic wildfires which have ravaged Europe including Spain and Greece. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to Carlos Damaso, a victim of a fire he was fighting in his parish, asking that the current mayor of Guarda pass them on to his family. Mr Rebelo de Sousa added that he had cut short his holidays and returned to the presidential palace, joining a meeting of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. For numerous days now, several thousand firefighters have been battling fires in various parts of the country. Like its neighbour Spain, Portugal has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, requesting four firefighting aircraft to use until Monday, the presidency said on X. Apocalyptic scenes have spread across Europe as dramatic wildfires bathe the countryside sickly orange, with blazes ravaging Portugal, Spain and Greece. One horrifying photo taken in the Sernancelhe district of Viseu, Portugal, shows a raging inferno and dark clouds of smoke threatening to completely submerge a house in flames. The sky is completely amber as an angry blaze continues to tear its way through the forest, making the air thick with smog. Nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling seven major fires across the country, in Tabuaço, Trancos, Sirarelhos, Sátão, Arganil, Vilarinho do Monte and Ermidas do Sado. Authorities extended the state of alert until Sunday, amid high temperatures expected to last through the weekend. 'We are being cooked alive, this cannot continue,' said Vila Real Mayor Alexandre Favaios, where a fire had been burning for 10 days. It comes as another heatwave pushes temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across parts of Europe. Global warming is giving the Mediterranean region hotter, drier summers, scientists say, with wildfires surging each year and sometimes whipping up into 'whirls'. Firefighters in Spain and Greece continued to battle wildfires Friday on a public holiday in all three countries as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes. Spain was fighting 14 major fires. Temperatures were expected to climb over the weekend. 'Today will once again be a very tough day, with an extreme risk of new fires,' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X. The national weather agency AEMET warned of extreme fire risk in most of the country, including where the largest blazes were burning in the north and west. A heatwave which brought temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on several days this month was expected to last through Monday. Fires in the Galicia region forced the closure of several highways. The high speed rail line connecting it to Spain's capital, Madrid, remained suspended. The fires in Spain this year have burned 158,000 hectares or 610 square miles, according to the European Union ´s European Forest Fire Information System. That is an area roughly as big as metropolitan London. Spanish authorities reported the death of a 37-year-old volunteer firefighter who sustained severe burns in an area north of Madrid this week. It was the third reported death in Spain due to the recent fires. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the region and still can not return. Temperatures reached 44 C (111 F) in some regions, according to meteorology service AEMET, with minimal rainfall and windy conditions expected to exacerbate the fire risk. In both Spain and Portugal it was the Feast of the Assumption, a major Catholic holiday usually marked by family gatherings and religious processions. A wildfire in Greece burned out of control for a fourth day on the island of Chios, prompting several more overnight evacuations. Two water-dropping planes and two helicopters were operating in the north of the island in the eastern Aegean Sea, where local authorities said a lull in high winds was helping firefighters early Friday. Following a series of large fires in western Greece earlier this week, the Fire Service was on alert Friday outside Athens and nearby areas in the south of the country where adverse weather conditions elevated the fire risk. The fire service said a major blaze outside the southern port city of Patras has been contained on the outskirts of urban areas after a large-scale deployment. Three people have been arrested in connection with the fire, which authorities said may have been deliberately set. A man also died in a fire in Albania, while a 61-year-old Hungarian seasonal worker is suspected to have died of heat-related causes while picking fruit in Lleida, in Spain's eastern Catalonia region. The spiritual leader of the world´s Orthodox Christians Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed solidarity on Friday with the victims of wildfires in southern Europe during prayers for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, an important religious holiday for Orthodox Christians. A drop in wind speeds on Thursday allowed firefighting aircraft in the three hard-hit countries to step up water drops, concentrating on existing fire zones rather than chasing fast-moving fronts.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
European seaside destinations experience 'marine heatwave'
With summer in full swing and temperatures soaring across Europe, seaside destinations have experienced a 'marine heatwave'. Sea temperatures globally have been so high recently and July was the third-warmest on record, according to Mercator Ocean International. The non-profit organization is part of the EU's Copernicus Marine Service and monitors the conditions of the ocean, while also providing forecasts. Analysis by the institute found around the world sea temperatures reached an average of 20.80°C. It reached an 'unprecedented' temperature of 26.68°C, beating the previous high of 26.65°C in 2023. According to Monaco Life , areas of the western Mediterranean, including Spain, as well as the central basin close to Italy have seen soaring temperatures. The European destinations have reportedly seen sea surface temperatures breaching 30°C. 'Strong or higher category marine heatwaves' hit 68% of the Mediterranean Sea in July, according to Mercator Ocean International. There were other temperature spikes too, with 63% of the basin exceeding the long-term average by at least 1°C. Meanwhile 40% of the basin saw the heat exceed by at least 2°C. Mercator Ocean International revealed how the western Mediterranean was the worst hit. There have been been plenty of on-land heatwaves too recently. Temperature records were recently broken in at least four weather stations in southern France. The southwestern city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France. The heatwave, the country's second this summer, began last Friday and was forecast to last possibly until August 19 or 20.
