Firefighters in central Spain battle large wildfire amid heat wave
8 reported
Firefighters in central Spain are battling a wildfire that has burned over 32,000 hectares in one of the largest blazes in recent memory for the country. The fire in rural Guadalajara comes less than two weeks after a deadly blaze in southern Spain killed 13 people, including several foreigners. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the fire-ravaged area on Wednesday, where some 34 villages have been evacuated, with no reported serious injuries or deaths. Sánchez stated that climate change kills and destroys wealth in communities, calling for a national pact among all political parties to fight climate change. Spain’s weather agency said a heat wave that began Tuesday was expected to peak between Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures pushing 40 degrees Celsius in several inland areas. Regional authorities said firefighters supported by water-dumping aircraft have protected the homes of all 40 villages in the burned area, 90% of which belongs to a national park. Firefighters hope to have the nearly week-old fire under control by Friday, according to regional president Emiliano García-Page.
What’s reported
The wildfire in Guadalajara has burned over 32,000 hectares (79,000 acres).
Some 34 villages have been evacuated, with no reported serious injuries or deaths.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the area on Wednesday.
Sánchez said Spain has suffered 22 major forest fires this year, burning four times the terrain compared to July of last year.
Over 100,000 hectares had been scorched through the first half of the year, matching the total yearly average for Spain over the last decade.
Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, described the fire as “one of the largest in the recent history of our country” and the largest ever for Castilla La Mancha.
Firefighters hope to have the fire under control by Friday, said regional president Emiliano García-Page.
A heat wave began Tuesday, expected to peak Wednesday to Thursday, with temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) inland.
Key figures
Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Prime Minister
Sara Aagesen, Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition
Emiliano García-Page, regional president of Castilla La Mancha
Miguel Ángel Moreno, mayor of Zarzuela de Jadraque
Sources: abcnews.com
