Ankara: Spain is battling some of its worst wildfires in years, with blazes in the Zamora, Leon, and Ourense cities overwhelming firefighting resources and forcing the evacuation of more than 9,500 people from more than 50 municipalities, authorities said Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Interior Ministry reported that seven of the country's 10 largest active fires are concentrated in this northwestern triangle, fueled by soaring temperatures, strong winds, and dry lightning storms. Three people have been killed, including two volunteers in Zamora and a man in Leon, and at least 16 others injured, five critically.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that 1,500 personnel, including regional crews, the Military Emergency Unit, and national firefighting assets, are deployed to combat the fires. He confirmed that the EU will send two Canadair aircraft, each capable of carrying 5,500 liters (1,453 gallons) of water, to assist the operations.
In support of Spain, France has announced it will send two Canadair firefighting planes and one coordination aircraft after Madrid requested help from the European Union under its Civil Protection Mechanism. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau mentioned that the planes, departing from the civil security base in Nimes on Thursday morning, would operate in Spain for two days.
The crisis has been compounded by a severe heatwave affecting much of Southern Europe. In France, authorities are investigating whether the summer's largest wildfire in the southern Aude province, which killed one person, injured many others, and destroyed 36 homes, was deliberately set. The blaze broke out on Aug. 5 between Lagrasse and Ribaute and scorched around 17,000 hectares before it was controlled on Aug. 10. Prosecutors stated that natural causes had been ruled out, with investigations still underway.
Italy is also enduring exceptional heat, with the Health Ministry issuing red heat wave alerts for multiple cities on Aug. 15, including Bologna, Bolzano, Milan, Brescia, Genoa, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona, Rome, Rieti, Latina, Frosinone, Viterbo, Perugia, and Florence. In Genoa, perceived temperatures reached 45C (113F), while Florence, Milan, and Rome were hotter than Algiers, Tunis, and Rabat. Coldiretti, a leading agricultural organization, reports that nearly 57,000 hectares (140,850 acres) of land and forests have burned in Italy this year, almost 60% more than the 20-year average.
In Portugal, authorities are grappling with multiple wildfire outbreaks intensified by extreme heat and strong winds. Emergency services have been deployed to protect residential areas, and evacuations were carried out in some rural communities as flames advanced toward homes. The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere warned that high fire risk will persist in the coming days, particularly in the central and southern regions.
Albania has also been hit by dozens of blazes across several districts, prompting a nationwide high alert. Prime Minister Edi Rama noted that the situation had improved compared to earlier in the week but cautioned that 'unexpected dangers' could arise at any moment, Radio Television Shqiptar reported.
Wildfires have also struck the Greek island of Zakynthos, where firefighters and emergency crews are working to contain flames threatening tourist areas.