In the midst of an extreme heatwave, the forest fires in Spain have led to a critical situation. With active fires in several regions, especially in the north of the country, and an extreme drought, there are thousands of evacuees and serious damages.
The combination with strong winds made extinguishing efforts difficult. This led to thousands of people evacuating their homes and closing roads and paths to prevent the flames from spreading.
Fires in Spain: from Galicia, Las Médulas to the Community of Madrid
Fires in Galicia and in the Las Médulas area are causing concern among authorities. In Madrid, the fire dangerously approached homes in Tres Cantos, generating a large column of smoke visible from several kilometers away.
Fires spreading amid a heatwave and drought in Spain. (Photo: EFE).
The 112, the Madrid Emergency and Security Agency, shared images of the fire approaching apartment buildings and the municipal sports center Dehesa Boyal was evacuated preventively.
San Sebastián de los Reyes‘ Civil Protection asked residents not to approach the affected area and to keep doors and windows closed due to high smoke concentration.
About 2000 evacuees in Zahara de los Atunes, Cádiz: damages and fire extent
In Tarifa (Cádiz), authorities evacuated about 2000 people as the fire advanced towards the Atlanterra urbanization. The Civil Guard recommended residents to leave via the beach to avoid road collapse. Residential areas in the Sierra de la Plata were also evacuated preventively.
In the town of Molezuelas de Carballeda in Zamora, the Emergency Military Unit (UME) worked all night to contain a fire that reached an agricultural company, damaging a greenhouse and several facilities.
In San Bartolomé de Pinares (Ávila), the fire spread to Las Navas del Marqués, damaging around three kilometers of the railway connecting Ávila to Madrid.
Moreover, residents of the town of Carucedo in the province of Castilla y León were evacuated over the weekend when the fire reached residential areas of the municipality.
The most dangerous front of the fire declared in the town of Yeres in León and affecting the protected area of Las Médulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was brought under control on Monday night.
In the area of El Vendrell, Tarragona, a possible electrical fault may have caused a fire that led to the evacuation of 1800 people from a campsite.
Conditions favoring wildfires
Homes and even railways affected by the fire. (Photo: X- paugasol).
As it happens during dry seasons and high temperatures in Argentina and Latin America, the current heatwave in Europe, combined with drought and strong winds, is causing an unprecedented emergency.
The forest fires not only threaten the population and infrastructure but are also severely affecting local ecosystems. Vegetation loss and risks for wildlife have been reported.
