More Than 100 Wildfires Are Already Raging Across Spain And Spring Has Only Just Started
Authorities have voiced concerns that there will be more wildfires this year due to an unusually dry winter and rising temperatures due to climate change.
Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across Spain, marking an early beginning to wildfire season.
The country’s first major wildfire of this year began on March 25 in Valencia, burning more than 4,400 hectares of land and forcing 1,500 people from their home.
Firefighters said that the blaze was more typical of summer than late March, the Local Spain reported.
Meanwhile, the president of the Valencia region said that summer-like temperatures of 30˚C (86˚F) had made the flames more “voracious”, according to the Guardian.
On March 29, the country registered its highest recorded temperature on the day, with temperatures exceeding normal levels by 7 to 14˚C, Reuters reported, citing weather agency AEMET.
On Friday March 31, more than 90 wildfires scorched the region of Asturias in northern Spain.
More than 600 firefighters were deployed to put out the blazes, and towns were evacuated and roads closed as a result.
Authorities said most of the fires had been started by arsonists but were fanned by strong winds.
Authorities have voiced concerns that there will be more wildfires this year due to an unusually dry winter and rising temperatures due to climate change, according to Reuters.
