News in brief

Spain battles devastating wildfires amid relentless heatwave

Saturday 16 August 2025 - 14:45

Spain is entering its third week under an intense heatwave while firefighters and military units continue to battle devastating wildfires sweeping across the northwest and west of the country. The regions of Castile and León, Galicia, Asturias, and Extremadura have become the epicenters of the crisis, forcing the government to deploy extraordinary resources.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that, in addition to two French water-bombing aircraft already operating in Spain, two Canadair planes from Italy—provided through the European Civil Protection Mechanism—arrived on Saturday to reinforce firefighting efforts.

“The government continues to fight the flames with every available means,” Sánchez stated on social media platform X, as the management of the fires increasingly fuels political debate. Several major highways remain closed, and the train line between Madrid and Galicia has been suspended during the busy Assumption holiday weekend.

In Galicia, emergency services issued mobile phone alerts urging residents in dozens of towns to stay indoors. “If you receive this alert: remain calm, read the message carefully, and avoid unnecessary movement. If outside with no safe shelter, move away from fire-affected areas,” the warning said.

Nearly 3,500 members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) have been deployed across the affected regions. However, regional leaders argue that additional reinforcements are needed. The president of Castile and León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, called on the central government for “an exceptional response to an exceptional situation,” asking for more army personnel to support local firefighters. Extremadura has also submitted a formal request for reinforcements and appealed for more equipment through the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

Spain is expected to remain under heatwave alert until at least Monday, with extreme temperatures dramatically increasing wildfire risks. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 157,000 hectares have already been destroyed by fire, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).