Spanish Army on the Frontlines: Historic Mobilization Against Wildfires

Kokcha News Agency: Spain has escalated its response to the catastrophic wildfires sweeping across the country by deploying an additional 500 military personnel to the frontlines. This brings the total number of troops involved in firefighting efforts to 1,900, making it one of the largest emergency mobilizations in recent history.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the reinforcement during a press conference in Ourense, one of the hardest-hit regions. Authorities have expressed difficulty in controlling the 20 major fires burning simultaneously across the country.

Spanish officials have also highlighted another dimension of the crisis: since June, 27 people have been arrested on suspicion of arson, and investigations have been launched against 92 individuals.

Europe in Flames

The wildfires, fueled by extreme heat and drought, are not limited to Spain. They are affecting a wide geographical area, from Greece to Portugal. The European Union has sent aircraft to assist in firefighting efforts, and so far, five countries have requested support.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, and hundreds have been injured. In the village of Villardevos in Galicia, residents were forced to fight the flames with buckets of water after power outages rendered water pumps inoperable.

Portugal’s Devastation

In Portugal, Reuters reports that half of the area burned this year—approximately 77,500 hectares—was reduced to ashes in just the last three days.

The largest fire continues to rage in the central tourist region of Piodao, while another fire in Trancoso, which has been burning for eight days, remains uncontrolled.