Spain is burning—and the battle to stop it just got tougher.
Scorching heat has fueled more than 20 major wildfires.
The government called in another 500 military emergency troops, raising the total to nearly 1,900.
But with temperatures hitting 45°C (113°F), even the reinforcements are struggling against the flames.
In Galicia, multiple fires have merged into a monster blaze, shutting down highways and train lines.
Villagers in places like Villardevos have been left so desperate they’re forming bucket brigades to fight the flames themselves.
“The fireplanes come in from all sides, but they don’t come here,” one frustrated resident said.
Another added bluntly: “It’s insurmountable—it couldn’t be worse.” Officials admit conditions are brutal.
“Today there are extremely high temperatures with an extreme risk of fires, which complicates the firefighting efforts,” said Virginia Barcones, Spain’s emergency services chief.
The Crisis Isn’t Limited To Spain
Neighboring Portugal has lost 155,000 hectares this year—triple the usual average—with some blazes burning for over a week.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, visiting fire-hit Ourense, vowed a “national climate pact” by September.
His words were stark: “There are still some challenging days ahead and, unfortunately, the weather is not on our side.”
The question now is whether Spain’s firefighting grit—and Europe’s climate promises—can keep pace with a warming planet.
A warming planet that seems determined to raise the stakes.
