Spain and Portugal Wildfires Kill Four as Troops Mobilise
Spain has deployed nearly 2,000 troops to battle wildfires, with four firefighters killed and thousands evacuated amid a scorching heatwave.
Spain ramps up response
Spain has deployed an additional 500 troops to contain wildfires, bringing total forces to 1,900 as the death toll rises to four. The Castile and León regional government confirmed a firefighter died after his vehicle plunged down a hillside.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed "deep sadness and desolation" over the loss.
Cross-border impacts and casualties
In Portugal, a firefighter was killed and two injured in a traffic accident while battling blazes. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa extended his deepest sympathies to the firefighter's family. In 2025, Portugal has seen about 216,000 hectares scorched, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
Meanwhile, Spain has battled fires across multiple regions. In the western province of Cáceres, a fire has consumed 11,000 hectares. Galicia faces 12 active fires, with the largest in Ourense province burning 17,500 hectares. Over 27,000 residents remain evacuated.
Investigations and preventive measures
Spain's Civil Guard has proposed sanctions against four individuals for unauthorised burns in A Coruña, Galicia. In Spain, causing a wildfire, even accidentally, is a criminal offence.
International support and climate outlook
Under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, Spain and Portugal have requested emergency assistance. Additional firefighting crews and two aerial firefighting planes will reinforce efforts.
Meteorologists warn heatwave-driven wildfires are intensifying with climate change, making such emergencies increasingly frequent.
Severe heat-driven wildfires in southern Europe have forced large-scale troop deployments and mass evacuations, highlighting the mounting risks of climate-induced disasters.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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