Costa Brava Wildfire: 45,000 Spaniards Told to Stay Home

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his "concern" on the online service X and called on the population to exercise caution "in view of the high temperatures in the coming days." His Portuguese counterpart, Luís Montenegro, stated: "Nicht, weil unsere Kapazitäten bereits ausgeschöpft wären, sondern weil bei der derzeitigen Lage unser gesamtes Staatsgebiet einem sehr hohen Risiko ausgesetzt ist". Portugal has therefore requested foreign assistance.

Situation in Portugal

Severe wildfires are also raging in Portugal. In the north of the country, a fire broke out in the municipality of Vouzela in the district of Viseu, some 20 kilometers from the coast. According to civil protection commander Mário Silvestre, this fire has destroyed an estimated 10,000 hectares. At least nine people were injured. Some 1,000 firefighters are deployed.

Catalan police arrested a man suspected of starting the fire "durch die Nutzung eines Winkelschleifers am Straßenrand". According to Interior Minister Parlón, ensuring operational readiness is part of the emergency services' responsibilities, "falls wir gleichzeitig mehrere Vorfälle haben" – a scenario with "hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit".

Background: Climate Change and Heatwave

According to climate scientists, Spain is among the countries suffering most from advancing global warming. Last year, fires in Spain destroyed a record nearly 400,000 hectares of land, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. For comparison: in 2017, more than a hundred people died in fires in the region.

The current fire is unfolding against the backdrop of a heatwave that has gripped large parts of southwestern Europe. Authorities urged the public to avoid open flames outdoors and to heed warning notices. The Costa Brava tourist region remains accessible, although stretches of beach near the fire zones have been closed off.

Reactions and Investigations

Catalan regional leader Salvador Illa announced that the regional government would support the affected municipalities in coping with the damage. According to Spanish reports, Morocco, which is also suffering severe fires, has also appealed to European partners for assistance.