The scale of the fires that have engulfed Spain is becoming increasingly alarming, with thousands of hectares of forest reduced to ash and a large number of fires still active.
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This year, Spain has experienced a fourfold increase in large-scale fires compared to the same period last year. The flames have swept across more than 100,000 hectares of land, a figure that matches the annual average recorded over the past decade.
Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, visited one of the hardest-hit areas to see the damage firsthand and meet the rescue teams on the front line of the firefight. During the visit, he called for political unity and increased investment in preventing disasters linked to climate change.
Sanchez stressed that the number of large fires so far this year is four times higher than at the same time last year. He added that from one or several outbreaks, over 100,000 hectares have been burned nationwide, noting that this amount corresponds to the annual average burned area Spain has recorded over the last decade.
Emergency forces are continuing their work to contain the flames, but weather conditions such as high temperatures, winds, and drought are making the mission extremely difficult for firefighters. Government officials warn that extreme wildfires are becoming a more common phenomenon as a result of the climate emergency.
The Spanish prime minister once again appealed to all political parties to put aside divisions and focus on their common adversary: the climate crisis. He emphasized that this means not only extinguishing fires but also implementing preventive and awareness-raising measures, securing sustainable funding throughout the year, and committing to policies that mitigate the consequences of this emergency and support adaptation to it.
Neighboring France is also grappling with fires that have scorched significant areas of land, as temperatures have exceeded the 40-degree mark.
