700 People Evacuated
A large forest fire in the Spanish region of Extremadura has gotten out of control. Hundreds of people had to leave their homes. Approximately 7,500 hectares of forest have been destroyed so far. The regional government suspects arson.
Wildfire Outbreak in Extremadura
Due to a forest fire in the western Spanish region of Extremadura, hundreds of people have been evacuated to safety. The fire broke out on Wednesday near the town of Pinofranqueado, according to the Spanish security authority DSN. During the night, it spread so rapidly that about 700 residents of surrounding areas had to be evacuated. The people were taken to emergency shelters. The situation remains serious.
Strong Winds Hamper Extinguishing Efforts
To support the fire brigade, 165 soldiers from the army unit specialized in natural disasters (UME) were deployed to the large fire. The fire broke out on Wednesday 220 kilometers west of the capital Madrid and has already destroyed approximately 7,500 hectares of forest.
According to the police, eight firefighting planes, six helicopters, and several hundred firefighters are in use. Heavy equipment was used to cut firebreaks through the vegetation to stop the fire.
“Strong gusts of wind” are hampering the firefighting efforts, Commander David Barona told TV station TVE. According to DSN, the gusts are likely to continue. The regional government now suspects arson. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Twitter that he is “closely monitoring the fire’s development.”
320 Fires Already in 2021
A prolonged drought and rising temperatures have greatly increased the risk of forest fires. According to estimates from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), nearly 63,000 hectares of forest and bushland have been destroyed in Spain since the beginning of the year until May in a total of 320 fires.
The actual forest fire season is still ahead in the months of July to September. Experts believe that climate change makes heat waves more likely. In addition, droughts in the Mediterranean region have become more severe and likely according to scientific studies.
Recurring Forest Fires
Last year, forest fires in the entire EU reached a new record, but Spain was the hardest hit country according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Nearly 500 fires were counted in Spain alone, which devastated more than 300,000 hectares of land.
