Spain’s Ministerio del Interior has issued an alert to all those within the country, including holidaymakers, as scorching temperatures continue to grip the nation. This week, the European country endured unprecedented, record-breaking heat.
Spain found itself in the grip of a severe and dangerous heatwave, driven by hot air sweeping northwards from the Sahara Desert. These extreme conditions shattered long-standing weather records and triggered widespread red alerts, particularly across the northern and central regions.
Temperatures surged beyond 45C in certain parts of northern Spain at the start of the week. The northern region of Cantabria smashed its previous heat record, reaching a staggering 43.7C in Tama. Bilbao Airport recorded temperatures exceeding 40C on three separate occasions (Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).
This represents a historic milestone for the region, with the region reaching such levels three times within a single year, reports the Mirror. On Thursday, June 25, temperatures began to ease, with some rainfall and thunderstorms breaking out across parts of the northern and central plains, including Madrid. Nevertheless, elevated temperatures are continuing to persist.
Areas such as Andalusia and cities including Seville and Córdoba are experiencing their typical summer peaks. Temperatures are climbing back towards 37C to 38C as the weekend draws to a close.
The Ministerio del Interior translates as the Ministry of the Interior (also known as the Home Office or the Ministry of Internal Affairs). This government cabinet department handles domestic policy, public safety, law enforcement, immigration, and civil protection.
Taking to X on Sunday, June 28, the ministry urged people to avoid doing three things for safety reasons. It said: “In the forest, every gesture counts. Don’t throw away cigarette butts or matches. Don’t make fire outside of authorised areas. Don’t abandon flammable waste.” It added: “With heat and wind, the risk increases. A small oversight can turn into a big fire.”
Has Spain experienced wildfires this week?
Spain has been severely struck by a dangerous surge of wildfires this week, following its first major summer heatwave. Temperatures rocketed beyond 45C in the south and climbed as high as 43C in the north.
These punishing heat levels, combined with parched conditions and lightning strikes, have triggered a number of catastrophic blazes. One significant wildfire broke out between Tamarite de Litera and Alcampell, tearing through more than 4,000 hectares of land.
A harvesting machine is believed to have ignited the blaze, which forced the evacuation of approximately 240 residents from three neighbouring villages.
Is Spain prone to wildfires?
Spain faces a substantial risk of severe wildfires during warm weather, placing it among the most fire-susceptible nations in Europe. The combination of extreme summer heatwaves, prolonged drought spells, and strong winds creates “tinderbox” circumstances that allow fires to ignite and advance swiftly.
Figures from Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition show that human activity accounts for the vast majority of wildfires. Over half of the yearly fires in Spain are intentionally started, while a considerable proportion stems from accidents or carelessness, including poorly managed agricultural burning, discarded cigarette ends, or barbecues.
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