Ongoing forest fires have already destroyed at least 1,150 square kilometres in Spain in just one week, an area nearly half the size of the province of Limburg.
The regions of Galicia, Castilla y León, and Extremadura in the west and northwest have been particularly affected. Currently, there are 19 major fires in Spain, fueled by the persistent heatwave, drought, and strong winds. These are the worst fires in the country in nearly 20 years.
In the Galician province of Ourense, near the border with Portugal, several villages and landscapes are covered in a thick layer of smoke. In Vilar de Condes, residents have come outside in fear, waiting to see what will happen next, as a fire has come very close to the village.
“We are surrounded by flames. People are very scared and have fled their homes,” said Mayte Rodriguez, a local resident.