Spain Deploys 500 More Soldiers to Combat Wildfires
Spain has deployed an additional 500 troops from the Military Emergency Unit to assist in fighting 20 major wildfires raging across the country amid a heatwave that began last week.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, August 17 (local time), Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, “The coming days will remain challenging, and unfortunately, the weather is not on our side.”
He added that the total number of military personnel now engaged in firefighting operations has reached 1,900.
Alfonso Rueda, the head of the regional government of Galicia, reported that 12 major wildfires are currently active in the region, all near the city of Ourense. He stated that homes remain at risk, prompting lockdowns and the evacuation of residents in affected areas.
National authorities are awaiting promised aerial support from other European countries. Spain’s national railway operator, Renfe, suspended high-speed train services between Madrid and Galicia on Sunday. Local officials have advised residents to wear masks and limit outdoor activity to avoid inhaling smoke and ash.
Southern Europe is experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons in the past two decades, with Spain among the hardest-hit countries. The fires have claimed three lives over the past week and scorched around 1,150 square kilometers of land. Neighboring Portugal is also battling extensive wildfires.
Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET reported that temperatures in some areas reached up to 45°C (113°F) on Sunday. Virginia Barcones, director of emergency services, told Spanish public TV that temperatures may begin to drop from Tuesday, August 19, but for now, the weather remains “extremely adverse.”
According to scientists, temperatures in Europe have been rising at twice the global average since the 1980s. Climate change is intensifying the severity and frequency of wildfires, leaving the region increasingly vulnerable.
