Latest news with #NationalEmergencyandCivilProtectionAuthority
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Spain Deploys 500 More Soldiers as Wildfires Rage Across Europe
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Spain has deployed an additional 500 military personnel to combat devastating wildfires as scorching temperatures continue to fuel blazes across the country. The deployment brings Spain's total military firefighting force to 1,900 troops, marking one of the largest emergency responses in recent years. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the reinforcement during a press conference in Ourense, one of the hardest-hit regions, as authorities struggle to contain 20 major wildfires nationwide. Newsweek previously reached out to Portugal's National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority and the European Forest Fire Information System for comment via email. Why It Matters The fires come amid record-high temperatures in the region, with dry landscapes and materials further fueling fires from Greece to Portugal, marking one of the region's worst fire seasons on record. The European Union (EU) has sent firefighting planes to help battle the blazes, with five countries having requested assistance. The decision to add to the more than 1,400 troops already on wildfire duty came as authorities struggled to contain forest blazes. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate from their homes across the region, and hundreds have been injured across countries. Residents try to battle a wildfire in the village of Santa Baia de Montes in the province of Ourense, northwestern Spain on August 14, 2025. Residents try to battle a wildfire in the village of Santa Baia de Montes in the province of Ourense, northwestern Spain on August 14, 2025. MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Spain's wildfire crisis has reached critical levels with fires burning across multiple regions simultaneously. In Galicia's village of Villardevos, residents have resorted to fighting flames with water buckets after losing electricity needed to power water pumps. The situation has become so desperate that locals organized their own firefighting efforts when professional resources couldn't reach their area. Portuguese authorities report that about half of this year's burned area—approximately 77,500 hectares—was consumed in just the past three days, according to Reuters. The largest Portuguese blaze is burning near Piodao, a popular tourist destination in the country's mountainous central region. Another fire in Trancoso has been raging for eight consecutive days. Spanish authorities have identified a troubling human factor in the crisis: since June, 27 people have been arrested, and 92 others are under investigation for suspected arson. What People Are Saying AccuWeather wrote in an August 14 X post: "Europe is facing its worst wildfire season on record as deadly wildfires rage across France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Albania. More than 2.4 million acres have burned across Europe." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote in a Saturday X post: "All my encouragement and strength to the four injured members of @UMEgob in the Yeres fire, in León, and to their families. I thank them for their effort and dedication and hope they recover soon." The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) wrote in a Friday X post: "This Friday, very high or extreme fire danger in most of the country. The danger will remain at very high or extreme levels during the weekend and Monday, days when the heatwave affecting us since the beginning of the month continues." People run by a burnt area during a wildfire near the village of Larouco, in the province of Ourense, in northwestern Spain on August 13, 2025. People run by a burnt area during a wildfire near the village of Larouco, in the province of Ourense, in northwestern Spain on August 13, 2025. MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images What Happens Next? Weather forecasters predict temperatures may begin dropping from Tuesday, potentially providing firefighters with more favorable conditions. Spanish authorities are awaiting additional international assistance, including two Dutch water-dumping aircraft and firefighting teams from other EU countries under existing cooperation agreements. The reinforcements will join French and Italian aircraft already supporting Spanish operations. Portuguese authorities expect the arrival of two Swedish firefighting planes, while the country's national wildfire alert status was scheduled to end Sunday. Reporting includes information from Reuters and the Associated Press.
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Two firefighters are dead and three left fighting for their lives after truck crashed while rushing to battle blaze
Two firefighters have been killed and three are fighting for their lives after their truck crashed into a ravine. The tragic incident occurred in Portugal around 7pm on Sunday in the village of São Francisco de Assis as the crew rushed to tackle a blaze in Quinta do Campo, Fundão. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into the steep valley. One injured firefighter was airlifted by a helicopter. A total of 26 operators rushed to the scene and were supported by nine vehicles and an aircraft, according to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC). Teams from the Covilhã and Fundão Volunteer Firefighters, the National Republican Guard and the National Institute of Medical Emergency were also deployed. AENPC paid tribute to the firefighters: 'It is never enough to emphasize the commitment, altruism and professionalism with which, every day, thousands of firefighters across the country dedicate themselves, with courage and dedication, to defending the population and the forest against fires.' They also offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished for a speedy recovery to the injured. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also spoke of on 'the tragic death' of the firefighters 'while serving the community'. For numerous days now, several thousand firefighters have been battling fires in various parts of the country. Carlos Damaso, the former mayor of the Portuguese town Guarda, died this week after trying to fight dramatic wildfires which have ravaged Europe including Spain and Greece. 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. Apocalyptic scenes show the countryside bathed in sickly red and orange. 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. Firefighters in Spain and Greece continued to battle Friday on a public holiday in all three countries as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes.
Observer
2 days ago
- Climate
- Observer
Portugal wildfires claim first victim, as Spain on alert
MADRID: Portugal suffered its first death from the fires raging there, as Spain's weather agency warned of a "very high to extreme risk" of more wildfires there during Europe's intense heatwave. Further east, Greece was still fighting blazes on one Aegean island, but the situation had improved for several other southern European countries. Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the death of the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda, Carlos Damaso, who had been fighting the fires. The president said he had cut short his holidays and returned to work, joining a meeting of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. For days now, several thousand firefighters have been battling fires in various parts of the country. Portugal, like Spain, has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, requesting four firefighting aircraft to use until Monday, its presidency said on X. In Spain, three people have died in the fires, including two young volunteers in their thirties who lost their lives trying to extinguish a blaze in the Castile and Leon area. — AFP
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Climate
- RTÉ News
Portugal reports first death from heatwave fires
The fires raging across Portugal claimed their first victim, when the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda died fighting fires there, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced. The president offered "heartfelt condolences to the mayor of Guarda for the death of former mayor Carlos Damaso, victim of a fire he was fighting in his parish, asking that he pass them on to his family", said the president's statement. 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 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. After devastating fires in 2017 that killed 119 people across the country, Portugal boosted investment on fire prevention tenfold, doubling its budget for fighting forest fires. It subsequently managed to reduce the amount of land lost to 134,000 acres between 2018 and 2023, a third of what was lost between 2001 and 2017, according to government figures. It comes as all of Spain is on heatwave alert while the weather agency warned that much of the country is at "very high to extreme risk" from wildfires. The situation has improved for several other southern European nations, but Greece is still fighting fires on one Aegean island. Much of Spain has already endured nearly two weeks of high temperatures. The searing heat has spread to the northwestern region of Cantabria which had so far been spared. Temperatures there are forecast to pass 40C, said Aemet, the national weather agency. The risk of fires over the weekend and into Monday is "very high or extreme in most of the country", it added. Spain has endured a devastating season of fires, with 157,501 hectares reduced to ashes since the start of the year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Yet that figure is still well short of 2022, when more than 306,000 hectares went up in smoke. Three people have died during the fires, including two young volunteers in their 30s who lost their lives trying to put out a blaze in the Castile and Leon area. France has sent two water-bombing planes to help try to douse the flames in the northwestern region, where a dozen fires are still raging. The railway line between Madrid and the northwestern region of Galicia remains closed as well as ten main roads in the country. Elsewhere in southern Europe, lower temperatures and reduced wind are helping to improve the situation in Greece and the Balkans, where rain is forecast. Firefighters remain in Patras, Greece's third-largest city, due to "scattered" fires and are on the look-out if any reignite. The most active is still on the Mediterranean island of Chios, in the northeastern Aegean Sea, where eight aircraft have been deployed to try to douse the flames. The risk of fire remains high in the Attica region that includes the capital, Athens, and the southern Pelopponese peninsula, the Civil Protection agency warned. In Albania, initial government estimates said that thousands of cattle had been killed and 40 homes destroyed in just three days of wildfires.
CNA
3 days ago
- Climate
- CNA
Portugal wildfires claim first victim, as Spain on wildfire alert
MADRID: Portugal suffered its first death Friday (Aug 15) from the fires raging there, as Spain's weather agency warned of a "very high to extreme risk" of more wildfires there during Europe's intense heatwave. Further east, Greece was still fighting blazes on one Aegean island, but the situation had improved for several other southern European countries. Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced the death of the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda, Carlos Damaso, who had been fighting the fires. The president said he had cut short his holidays and returned to work, joining a meeting of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. For days now, several thousand firefighters have been battling fires in various parts of the country. Portugal, like Spain, has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, requesting four firefighting aircraft to use until Monday, its presidency said on X. In Spain, three people have died in the fires, including two young volunteers in their thirties who lost their lives trying to extinguish a blaze in the Castile and Leon area. One of them, Jaime Aparicio Vidales, was buried in the town of Quintanilla de Florez, Zamora province, Castile and Leon, on Friday. Much of the country has already endured nearly two weeks of high temperatures, and on Friday the searing heat spread to Cantabria, which had so far been spared. Temperatures in the northwestern region were forecast to pass 40C, said Aemet, the national weather agency. The risk of fires on Friday and over the weekend through to Monday was "very high or extreme in most of the country", it added. 'Nothing left to burn' Spain has endured a devastating wildfire season, with 157,501 hectares (389,193 acres) reduced to ashes since the start of the year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Yet that figure is still short of 2022, when more than 306,000 hectares went up in smoke. On Thursday, France sent two water-bombing planes to help try to douse the flames in the northwestern region, where a dozen fires were still raging. The railway line between Madrid and the northwestern region of Galicia remained closed, as well as 10 main roads. Marco Raton, 35, works on a pig farm in Sesnandez de Tabara near one of the fires in Castile and Leon that forced several thousand people to flee their homes. He and his friends did not think twice when they saw the fire arrive on Tuesday, he said. They grabbed "everything we had, backpacks, fire bats and garden hoses -- put on appropriate clothing and went over to help", he added. "As soon as we arrived, we started seeing burned people being evacuated, a car on fire, a burning tractor, warehouses, garages," he told AFP. He felt "helpless", he added. Raton had thought there was "nothing left to burn" after devastating fires in the same region in 2022. Now he was convinced that "this will continue to happen to us year after year". The mayor of Ferreruela, Angel Roman, called for fire breaks of cleared brush to be established around the villages. "The countryside, if it's clean, can stop the fire," he said. France on red alert Meteorologists in France, meanwhile, put the southern department of Aude, where a devastating fire has already killed one person and injured several others, on red alert. The fire, which broke out on Aug 5, has still not been fully extinguished and temperatures are expected to reach 40C there on Saturday. "We are in a situation of extreme vigilance," said Lucie Roesch, general secretary of the local prefecture. Further east, lower temperatures and reduced winds were helping to improve the situation in Greece and the Balkans, where rain was forecast in many parts of the region. Firefighters remained in Patras, Greece's third-largest city, monitoring scattered outbreaks. The most active blaze was still on the Mediterranean island of Chios, in the northeastern Aegean Sea, where eight aircraft have been deployed to try to douse the flames. The risk of fire remained high in the Attica region that includes the capital, Athens, and the southern Peloponnese peninsula, the Civil Protection agency warned on Friday.
