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Spain has bolstered its military firefighting force with an additional 500 troops, bringing the total to 1,900 personnel. This marks one of the largest emergency responses in recent years as wildfires continue to ravage Spain amid scorching temperatures.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the reinforcements during a press conference in Ourense, one of the hardest-hit regions. Authorities are struggling to contain over 20 major wildfires nationwide, and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
The fires come as record-high temperatures fuel blazes across Europe, from Greece to Portugal, marking one of the region’s worst fire seasons on record. The European Union has sent firefighting planes to help battle the flames, with five countries requesting assistance.
In Galicia’s village of Villardevos, residents have resorted to fighting flames with water buckets after losing power needed for water pumps. Locals organized their own firefighting efforts when professional resources couldn’t reach them. Portuguese authorities report that about half of this year’s burned area—approximately 77,500 hectares—was consumed in just the past three days.
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Spanish authorities have identified arson as a troubling factor: since June, 27 people have been arrested, and 92 others are under investigation for suspected arson.
Weather forecasters predict that temperatures may begin dropping from Tuesday, potentially providing firefighters with more favorable conditions. Spanish authorities await additional international assistance, including two Dutch water-dumping aircraft and firefighting teams from other EU countries. The reinforcements will join French and Italian aircraft already supporting operations in Spain.
Portuguese authorities expect the arrival of two Swedish firefighting planes, while the country’s national wildfire alert status was scheduled to end on Sunday.
Reporting includes information from Reuters and the Associated Press.
