Spain is tackling one of its worst wildfire seasons in decades, even as a long-running heatwave is beginning to ease across the Iberian Peninsula.
Galicia Hit Hard as Fires Rage
On Tuesday, thousands of firefighters, along with military troops and water-bombing aircraft, were still battling raging fires across northwestern Spain, where Galicia remained under a “very high or extreme” fire risk, The Associated Press reported, citing estimates from the country’s weather agency AEMET.
Fires in Galicia have torn through small, rural communities, where locals have been stepping in to battle the flames before emergency crews’ arrival.
International Help and Government Response
Meanwhile, the Spanish Interior Ministry announced that firefighting units from Germany had arrived in northern Spain to support local crews. Over 20 vehicles have been deployed in firefighting efforts in Jarilla, an area inside the Extremadura region bordering Portugal.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was expected to visit Jarilla on Tuesday to assess the damage and support response efforts.
According to the European Union’s Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Spain’s fires have ravaged more than 382,000 hectares (around 1,475 square miles) of land so far in 2025, an area twice the size of metropolitan London, as reported by The Associated Press. At least four people have lost their lives in these fires.
Arson Under Investigation
Spanish authorities have said that many of these current fires were deliberately set out.
At least 23 people have been detained for suspected arson, with another 89 placed under investigation, AP quoted Spain’s Civil Guard as saying.
Portugal Also Grapples with Flames
Neighbouring Portugal is also in crisis, with more than 3,700 firefighters tackling blazes, including four major fires in the north and center. So far, 235,000 hectares (907 square miles) has been burnt — nearly five times the average –for this time of year, per AP. Two people have also lost their lives in Portugal’s fires.
Climate Change Fueling the Crisis
Scientists have warned that climate change is amplifying the frequency and intensity of wildfires across Europe.The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service recently claimed that Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s – a trend that’s leaving regions like Spain and Portugal increasingly vulnerable.
