Relentless flames: more than 40 fires devastate north-western Spain

More than 40 fires remain active in Galicia, Castile and León and Extremadura, with 23 classified as of maximum danger. The area ravaged has already exceeded 344,000 hectares and threatens to make 2025 the most devastating year since records began.

In Castile and León, 26 fronts are burning, with Zamora, León and Salamanca among the hardest-hit provinces. Galicia is suffering especially in Ourense, where the flames have consumed 62,000 hectares and four firefighters were injured, one of them seriously. In Extremadura, the Jarilla fire has consumed 12,000 hectares and is advancing towards Salamanca, forcing mass evacuations in the Jerte Valley.

The human tragedy is worsening: four people have lost their lives in different parts of the country, including a firefighter who died in León when his vehicle overturned. More than 31,000 residents have had to leave their homes and the DGT has kept 15 roads closed in several autonomous communities.

The Government has deployed the UME with 1,400 military personnel on the front line and 2,000 more in support, but the autonomous communities are calling for urgent reinforcements. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to Cáceres this Tuesday to follow the development of the fires on the ground.

Aemet forecasts falling temperatures in the north-west and the arrival of Atlantic air that could bring rain. Until then, the emergency remains active, with fire as the protagonist of a summer already entering the dark history of wildfires in Spain.