Spain on maximum alert as heatwave and wildfires spread

Sunday 17 August 2025 - 09:30

Spain remained on maximum alert on Saturday as an intense heatwave and devastating wildfires continued to ravage the northwest and west of the country.

The government has mobilized around 3,500 troops from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) to support firefighters battling the flames in the hardest-hit regions.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who attended a coordination meeting on Saturday, said that “the government is working with all available resources to fight the fires.” He is expected to visit the worst-affected areas on Sunday, including Ourense, where about 16,000 hectares have burned, and León, with nearly 38,000 hectares destroyed.

The wildfires have severely disrupted transportation, leading to road closures and the suspension of the Madrid–Galicia railway connection. Authorities issued emergency phone alerts urging dozens of towns to remain indoors. The warning advised residents to “stay calm, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep away from affected areas.”

Regional leaders have appealed for greater support. Galicia’s president, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, called the situation “exceptional” and requested more army personnel to assist local efforts. Similarly, Extremadura has formally requested reinforcements from the central government, despite fire management usually falling under regional responsibility.

Spain is expected to remain under heat alert until Monday. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), extreme temperatures have sharply increased the risk of fires, which have already consumed more than 157,000 hectares nationwide.