Deadly wildfires and relentless heatwave strike the Iberian Peninsula.
Extreme Heatwave Hits the Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula is currently grappling with an extreme heatwave, accompanied by violent wildfires that have already resulted in one fatality and significant material damage, particularly at the UNESCO-listed site of Las Médulas in Spain.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Madrid community, announced on social media platform X that a man succumbed to severe burns sustained during the Tres Cantos fire, located near the capital. Authorities revealed that the victim had burns covering nearly his entire body. Additionally, hundreds of residents have been evacuated from the area, with at least one reporting chest pains.
The intensity of the heatwave has prompted meteorological services to issue red alerts, while the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has activated a "pre-emergency phase" in response to the growing number of wildfire outbreaks across the country. According to the national meteorological agency, temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days.
In the Castile and León region, home to the historic site of Las Médulas—ancient Roman gold mines designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997—wildfires have become increasingly numerous. Local authorities reported 32 active wildfires, several occurring simultaneously. Wind conditions are significantly hindering firefighting efforts, threatening centuries-old trees on the site and resulting in four minor injuries.
"It will take years for the landscape to recover," said Alfonso Fernández, the mayor of the neighboring town of Carucedo, in an interview with Cadena Ser radio.
Further south in Andalusia, the beaches of Tarifa were once again evacuated, as flames spread from the surrounding forests, forcing thousands of tourists to flee.
In Portugal, three major wildfires were ongoing on Tuesday. The most alarming one, located in Trancoso (central region), involves over 650 firefighters. Six people have been reported with minor injuries, including three firefighters, according to civil protection authorities. However, the situation is reportedly improving, according to the Lusa agency.
These fires, fueled by extraordinary heat and strong winds, highlight the increasing vulnerability of the region to the impacts of climate change.
