After a summer already marked by devastating blazes, hundreds of firefighters in Portugal and Spain are battling new wildfires, according to civil protection authorities. Strong winds have fanned the flames in several areas, forcing road closures, village evacuations, and urgent efforts to protect homes.
Situation in Portugal
The largest fire is raging in Seia, central Portugal, where 600 firefighters have been deployed to contain the flames, the civil protection agency said. A spokesperson told the Lusa news agency that the priority is “to protect homes.” Police have arrested a person suspected of starting the fire.
Situation in Spain
In Spain, authorities have confined the small village of Castromil in the northwest as a precaution due to a nearby blaze. The area was severely hit by a wave of fires in August, and a new fire reignited on Saturday due to strong winds, a source from the Castilla and Leon region’s environment ministry said. Spain on Sunday ended a state of emergency that had been in effect for several weeks due to one of the worst wildfire waves in recent years, which killed four people and burned over 300,000 hectares.
Weather and Damages
Central and northern Portugal were also ravaged by wildfires in August, which killed four people and caused numerous injuries. The Portuguese fires destroyed about 254,000 hectares, the worst toll since 2017, according to data from the National Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation. The national meteorological agency reported on Friday that Portugal experienced its hottest summer since 1931 this year.
