Peninsula of Iberia Engulfed in Flames
Spain and Portugal Battle Record-Breaking Wildfire Season
Spain and its neighbor Portugal are currently battling one of their worst wildfire seasons in decades, with over 382,000 hectares burned in Spain and around 347,000 hectares in Portugal as of mid-August 2025 [1][4].
The wildfires have been driven primarily by an intense heatwave and hot, dry conditions that started mid-August, creating extreme fire danger across the Iberian Peninsula [1]. Over 20 active wildfires were reported in Spain alone around August 17, with hotspots near Ourense being especially affected [1]. In Portugal, multiple large fires were burning simultaneously, including a major blaze in Trancoso consuming over 39,000 hectares [1].
The ongoing fires have seriously strained firefighting resources and prompted arrests related to suspected fire causes in Spain [5]. In neighboring Portugal, more than 1,500 personnel are fighting the six largest fires on the mainland [6].
The Ministry of the Interior has activated level 1 of the national emergency plan in Spain, and investigations have been launched in all cases where fires are suspected to be deliberately set [2]. Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen stated that some fires could have been deliberately set [2].
The fires have affected at least seven of the 17 so-called autonomous communities in Spain, and the situation is particularly severe in the northwestern provinces of Ourense, Zamora, and León [6]. At least two lives have been claimed by these fires, one in the regions of Madrid and León [6].
Tourist hotspots in popular holiday destinations are not currently affected, but thousands of people in several regions had to spend Wednesday night outside their homes due to the fires [7].
The fires are raging repeatedly and almost continuously, and an unusually long heatwave is hindering firefighting efforts and is expected to continue until next Monday [3]. The country could move to phase 2 and mobilize state funds to combat the fires [8].
Sources:
- ntv.de
- soe/dpa
- BBC News
- The Guardian
- The Local Spain
- The Telegraph
- The Independent
- El País
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