Thousands evacuated as wildfires rage across Spain during scorching heatwave

Thousands of people in Spain faced evacuation orders Tuesday as wildfires continued to burn across the Iberian Peninsula during a heatwave expected to reach temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius (112.2 Fahrenheit) in some places.

Firefighters had largely contained a blaze outside Madrid that broke out Monday night, authorities said Tuesday. The fire, which mainly burned scrub and grassland, killed a man who suffered burns on 98% of his body, emergency services said.

The fire affected more than 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres). By Tuesday morning, authorities were allowing some residents back into their homes.

Elsewhere, firefighters were battling blazes in several Spanish regions including Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Andalusia and Galicia. Numerous fires forced thousands of people to evacuate, including holiday-goers in Cadiz after a fire sent huge plumes of smoke into the air visible Monday from some beaches at the southern tip of Spain.

People rest at a help center a day after they were evacuated from the Spanish town of Tarifa due to wildfires, in Zahara de los Atunes, Spain, on Tuesday. Reuters

More than 700 firefighters in Portugal were working to control a fire in Trancoso, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) northeast of Lisbon. Smaller fires were burning further north.

Dry vegetation and strong winds can make forest fires spread rapidly and out of control.

Scientists warn climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in Southern Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires and the health impacts of extreme heat.

A firefighting helicopter flies over Tarifa, a day after many people, including locals and tourists, were evacuated from this town, Spain, on Tuesday. Reuters

Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Last year was the hottest year on record in Europe and globally, the monitoring agency said.

The burning of fuels like gasoline, oil and coal release heat-trapping gasses are the main driver of climate change. Deforestation, wildfires and many kinds of factories also contribute.

Associated Press