Spanish firefighters have been battling over 50 forest and grassland fires in central and southern Spain since Friday afternoon as temperatures continue to soar.
In the southwest of the country, raging fires have rapidly spread across forests and fallow lands in Puebla de Maestre, Extremadura, causing extensive damage to over 1,000 hectares.
During Friday evening, most of the fires were near the cities of Guadalajara, Badajoz, Seville, and Cordoba.The forest fire in Montitxelvo has destroyed more than 1,400 hectares and forced the evacuation of more than 600 people in Vall d’Albaida, Spain 🇪🇸 2 November 2023 #forestfire #wildfires #fire #Spain pic.twitter.com/wT86XFpH29
— DISASTER TRACKER (@DisasterTrackHQ) November 3, 2023
In the province of Badajoz, Spanish medical services reported that two men were injured in the fire in the municipality of La Zarza.
The Spanish civil defense said that the fight against the blaze is being impeded by strong, variable winds, as well as the significant dryness of the ground.
Most of the fires that spread across Spain on Friday have appeared suddenly, particularly in areas where temperatures have remained above 40 degrees for several days.
Wildfires in Europe
Because the heat wave is gripping many parts of Europe, the risk of wildfire is increasing, with some countries already battling their own blazes.
In Spain’s neighboring Portugal, several people have recently been killed in wildfires, and the risk of new ones breaking out remains high.
Bulgaria has seen a wave of fires ravage the country, leaving many homeless. After more than two weeks of firestorms, authorities are still battling nature.Fire broke out in a bush and forest area in Alcabideche, #Portugal #Wildfire #Europe #Forestfire #Bushfire #Grassfire #Fire #Weather #Viral #Climate pic.twitter.com/K7lCkP4NBI
— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) July 22, 2024
Neighboring North Macedonia has faced similar dangers in the past weeks with dozens of wildfires being fought by local and EU services.State of emergency declared in Svilengrad, #Bulgaria as a wildfire has grown to at least 110,000 acres
— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) July 18, 2024
VC: https://t.co/EuH8F3DQop#Wildfire #Europe #Haskovo #Svilengrad #Forestfire #Fire #Bushfire #Grassfire #Weather #Viral #Climate pic.twitter.com/BXs1c6xwr2
In Croatia, last week tourists had to evacuate an area around the coastal city of Spilit in southern Croatia due to what appears to be arson, after a man was arrested in connection with the fire.1,000 Tourists Evacuated After Wildfire in Southern Italy https://t.co/E5glsmc1S6 #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #SevereWeather #Heatwave #Wildfire #Puglia #Gargano #Italy #Europe pic.twitter.com/29qS6Fea1F
— firehorse23 (@firehorse249791) July 24, 2024
In Italy and Greece, the risk of fires remains high as services fight local blazes.
1,000 Tourists Evacuated After Wildfire in Southern Italy https://t.co/E5glsmc1S6 #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #SevereWeather #Heatwave #Wildfire #Puglia #Gargano #Italy #Europe pic.twitter.com/29qS6Fea1F
— firehorse23 (@firehorse249791) July 24, 2024