Wildfires Rage Across Spain and Portugal Amid Strong Winds and Rising Casualties

Efforts to contain widespread wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula are being severely hampered by strong winds, as emergency services in Spain and Portugal continue to battle dozens of active blazes. Despite a recent drop in temperatures, the fires remain relentless, threatening communities and claiming lives.

In western Spain, firefighters—supported by military units and water-dropping aircraft—are currently fighting 21 wildfires classified as “operational level two,” indicating a direct risk to nearby populations. Virginia Barcones, Spain’s Director General of Emergency Services, confirmed the severity of the situation on Wednesday according to Al Jazeera.

The fires, which began on August 7, have already scorched over 350,000 hectares nationwide, with the Galicia region suffering the most extensive damage—approximately 155,000 hectares burned, marking the worst fire season since 2006. The death toll in Spain has risen to four, and authorities have arrested 37 individuals suspected of involvement in starting the fires.

In Portugal, the situation is equally dire. A third fatality was reported after a man died while assisting firefighting efforts. The country continues to grapple with the impact of the fires, which have devastated rural areas and strained emergency resources.

Calls are growing in Spain’s Castilla y León region for the central government to take over coordination of firefighting operations, as local residents express frustration over the response. In a show of international solidarity, German firefighters have arrived in northern Spain to support local teams.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the affected areas and attributed the fires and the preceding 16-day heatwave to climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for environmental action.

As the fires continue to burn, both Spain and Portugal face a critical challenge in protecting lives, property, and natural landscapes from one of the most destructive wildfire seasons in recent years.

Sources

37 people arrested in connection with forest fires in Spain – AKIpress News Agency

Winds complicate wildfire battles in Spain; Portugal suffers third death | Climate Crisis News | Al Jazeera