Spain PM vows ‘climate pact' on visit to fire-hit region
Spain is entering its third week of heatwave alerts, as firefighters continue to battle blazes.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised on Aug 17 a 'national pact' to deal with the climate emergency, as he visited a western region battling devastating wildfires.
Spain is entering its third week of heatwave alerts and firefighters are
continuing to battle blazes in the north-west and west of the country, with army units deployed to help contain the flames.
France and Italy had
earlier sent water bombers to an air base near Salamanca to help with the firefighting efforts.
'The government of Spain will work now so that in September we can have the bases of this national pact to mitigate and adapt to the climate emergency,' said Mr Sanchez during a visit to Ourense in the northwestern province of Galicia.
He said he wanted to do 'everything possible and even more' to ensure victims of the fires returned to a normal life.
The north-west and west of the country have been hard-hit by the fires, particularly the regions of Castile and Leon, Galicia, Asturias and Extremadura.
Spain is expected to remain on heat alert until Aug 18, with the extreme temperatures having significantly increased the risk of wildfires.
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Climate change caused by humans is increasing the intensity, duration and frequency of periods of extreme heat, which fuel forest fires. AFP
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