Spain is currently facing one of the most severe wildfire seasons in nearly twenty years, with at least 20 large wildfires continuing to burn across the country and becoming increasingly uncontrollable due to the scorching heat. In just the past week, the fires have claimed three lives and destroyed over 115,000 hectares of forest land.
According to data from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), temperatures in some areas reached a scorching 45 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with highs exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for over ten consecutive days. The extreme heat has caused the soil and vegetation to dry up, creating a potential “powder keg” situation.
In the northwest region of Galicia, multiple fire spots have merged into massive firefields, forcing the closure of highways and railway lines leading to Madrid. In the western region of Extremadura, the fires are advancing towards Castile and León, with local officials describing the situation as “completely out of control.”
In the Galician town of Villardevós, power outages have affected the water supply system, leading residents to rely on manual labor to fetch water with buckets for self-preservation.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking at the Ourense firefighting command center on Sunday, stated that “the coming days will continue to be extremely challenging, unfortunately, the weather is not on our side.” He announced the deployment of an additional 500 military emergency personnel, bringing the total national deployment to 1,900 individuals to support local firefighters.
As the fires continue to spread, Spain has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time, seeking assistance. Sánchez noted that this wildfire has triggered the largest cross-border mobilization since the establishment of the mechanism. Countries including France, Slovakia, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Romania, and others have dispatched firefighting aircraft, helicopters, and personnel to support Spain.
Established in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is responsible for coordinating cross-border rescues to address disasters such as wildfires, floods, and conflicts. The European Commission stated that this year, there have been over 16 cross-border assistance operations initiated, supporting firefighting efforts in multiple countries, including Spain, at a level consistent with the record for the entire year of 2024.
Virginia Barcones, the Director-General of Spain’s Emergency Services, pointed out that the high temperatures and ongoing dry weather are worsening the firefighting conditions, with some relief expected only by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, authorities in several regions have launched arson investigations. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, 27 individuals have been arrested since June on suspicion of arson, with another 92 under investigation.
Not only Spain, but neighboring Portugal has also been devastated by wildfires this year, having burned approximately 155,000 hectares of vegetation, three times the average of the past twenty years. Nearly half of this area was destroyed in just the last two to three days. In Portugal’s Trancoso, a wildfire raged for over 8 days, claiming the life of one resident and prompting the activation of the EU rescue mechanism.
Greece, Turkey, France, and several Balkan countries are also engulfed in flames. The capitals of Greece (Athens), Spain (Madrid), and even Montenegro (Podgorica) have reported fires nearing alarming levels.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), as of now, there have been over 1,600 wildfires across Europe in 2025, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the same period last year, burning an area exceeding 410,000 hectares, significantly surpassing last year’s 189,000 hectares.
(Adapted from relevant reports by Reuters)