WildfiresA devastating wildfire in Spain has claimed one life and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, as strong winds and scorching heatwave conditions continue to fuel the flames. The victim suffered serious burns after winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour whipped the fire through Tres Cantos, a wealthy suburb north of Madrid. The man later died in hospital, becoming the first death from dozens of wildfires to hit the country since the heatwave began last week.
The head of the regional government of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, expressed her condolences, saying she “deeply regretted” the man’s death. Hundreds of Tres Cantos residents were evacuated from their homes as the fire advanced rapidly, with Carlos Novillo, Madrid’s regional environment chief, stating that “in barely 40 minutes, the fire advanced 6km [3.7 miles]”. By Tuesday morning, regional officials announced that the blaze had been contained.
In addition to the Tres Cantos fire, about 2,000 people were evacuated from hotels and homes near the popular beaches of Tarifa in the southern region of Andalusia. Antonio Sanz, the interior minister of Andalusia, praised the firefighters’ efforts, saying, “We managed to save the residential area at the very last second”. A Civil Guard police officer was injured when struck by a car while helping with the evacuation.
The wildfires in Spain coincide with a severe heatwave affecting several European countries, including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans. Temperatures are expected to soar above 40°C, with forecasters warning of overnight lows remaining above 25°C.
In the northwestern region of Castile and Leon, more than 30 blazes were reported, including one threatening Las Medulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ancient Roman gold mines. According to the Spanish government, over 39,000 hectares of land have burned nationwide between January 1 and August 3, with the majority of fires occurring in the northwest and inland communities.
Meanwhile, wildfires are also raging in Turkey, with firefighters battling multiple blazes across the country. A large blaze in the northwestern province of Canakkale burned for a second day, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The Canakkale Airport and the Dardanelles Strait were temporarily closed due to the wildfires.