Northeast Spain Wildfire Destroys Over 12,000 Hectares

A major wildfire in northeast Spain has consumed more than 12,000 hectares of land in just two days, regional authorities reported Friday. The blaze, raging near the city of Zaragoza in the Aragon region, prompted the evacuation of five small villages.

Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, responsible for security within the Aragon regional government, described the night as "very complex, very difficult." He warned of a "very high risk of spreading" as over 450 firefighters, supported by army reinforcements, continue their efforts to contain the fire.

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The night has been very complex, very difficult. At this time, we estimate that the burned area exceeds 12,000 hectares

This incident follows a devastating wildfire in the southern Andalusia region last week, which claimed 13 lives, including seven Britons and an American, and destroyed 7,000 hectares. That fire was the deadliest of its kind in Spain's recent history.

The current wildfire is exacerbated by peak temperatures reaching up to 40°C in Aragon. Scientists note that human-caused climate change is intensifying extreme heat events, creating conditions ripe for wildfires and complicating firefighting operations. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously warned of a "complicated summer" for wildfires across Spain.

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complicated summer