Iberian Inferno: Portugal and Spain Grapple with Devastating Wildfires

                                            Jose Perez pours water from a bucket to put out a fire at  

                                                 a home garden as a wildfire rages on the outskirts of Valmojado, Spain

Thousands of firefighters are battling a wave of wildfires sweeping across northern Portugal and central Spain, marking the worst outbreak in the Iberian Peninsula this year. Fueled by record-breaking heat and dry conditions, the fires have scorched forests, forced evacuations, and disrupted daily life.

In Portugal, over 2,000 firefighters and 26 aircraft have been deployed to combat ten major blazes, primarily in the northern and central regions. The largest fire in Arouca has consumed scenic trails and forced evacuations, while another in Penamacor destroyed over 3,000 hectares of forest.

Spain is also under siege, with wildfires raging in Avila province and the Peneda-Geres national park. Military emergency units have joined firefighting efforts, and residents in villages like El Arenal and Mombeltran have been advised to stay indoors due to thick smoke.

The fires have disrupted transportation, including high-speed rail services, and devastated agricultural lands. In Mombeltran, a farmer mourned the loss of his family’s olive grove, which had survived a previous fire 16 years ago but was completely destroyed this time.

Experts warn that climate change is intensifying heatwaves and droughts, making wildfires more frequent and severe. With Portugal and Spain recording their hottest June ever, authorities remain on high alert as conditions threaten to worsen.