High temperatures ease as Spain battles 21 wildfires

ISTANBUL

Spain began to see relief from high temperatures that reached up to 44C (111F) during the week, while 21 wildfires remained active on Tuesday.

Although high temperatures that reached up to 44C (111F) during the week started to drop, the Interior Ministry reported 21 level two fires remaining active in various autonomous communities, according to the daily El Pais.

Following the meeting of the State Coordination Committee (CECODE) against wildfires, the undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Susana Crisostomo, warned that the risk is still high in certain regions such as Extremadura and the southeast, as the wind could complicate the situation.

She noted that the number of people evacuated due to the flames now exceeds 33,750.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also said the government will declare fire-hit regions disaster zones next Tuesday, as he visited Jarilla in the province of Caceres, where 15,000 hectares have burned.

The Interior Ministry announced that 32 arrests have been made since June 1 in connection with wildfires, with 93 under investigation.

The area burned in Spain this year exceeds 375,000 hectares (926,644 acres), El Pais further reported, citing the latest EU Copernicus Climate Change Service estimates.

Portugal has also been battling wildfires across several regions throughout August.

The Portuguese daily Diario De Noticias reported on Tuesday that the Seia municipality in the Guarda district continues to experience difficulties in controlling the fire due to a lack of aerial resources.

Two people were arrested under suspicion of starting a fire in Vila Real.

In France, a fire covering 130 hectares (321 acres) broke out late Monday in the southeastern Var department, the prefecture announced on US social media company X.

The fire was quickly contained, it noted.