Spain Faces Expanding Wildfires Amid Forecast for Fourth Heatwave

• Approximately 200,000 hectares have been burned in Spain so far this year, a sixfold increase compared to the previous year.
• The wildfire in Ávila alone has consumed over 50,000 hectares, marking the largest fire in Spain on record.
• The Council of Ministers will pass a Royal Decree-law to classify scorched territories as areas severely affected by civil protection emergencies.

Wildfire Situation and Meteorological Outlook

• More than thirty major fires are currently active, with strong winds severely hindering extinguishing efforts.
• Conditions are expected to worsen as a fourth heatwave of the summer approaches this coming Wednesday.
• The fire in Vall d’Uixó has already burned over 7,000 hectares, with government officials waiting for investigation results to confirm if it was intentional.

Government Response and Policy

• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared the climate emergency a "national priority," calling for a major State Pact to address the crisis.
• The Interior Ministry has expanded the national emergency declaration—initially affecting the Community of Madrid and the province of Ávila—to include the province of Toledo.
• The Prime Minister warned that summers will become increasingly difficult and deadly, urging citizens to exercise caution.