Spain Battles Major Forest Fire in the East
Spain is currently fighting its first major forest fire of the year, which has already burned over 4,000 hectares in the east of the country. Nearly 500 troops are fighting tirelessly between the provinces of Castellón and Teruel, in the Valencian Community and Aragon, respectively. The fire, which was declared on Thursday, has forced the evacuation of almost 2,000 people from different towns, especially in Castellón. Strong gusts of wind and high temperatures have made it difficult to combat the flames, but authorities have reported that the general evolution is positive.
In response to the fire, President Pedro Sánchez visited the area on Monday, highlighting once again the danger of the “climate emergency”. Four people are being investigated as possible perpetrators of the fire. According to the Civil Guard, they were carrying out some work in the area where the flames broke out. However, the investigation remains open, and sources from the emergency services suggest that agricultural malpractice may have played a role.
Spain has seen an increase in the number of forest fires in recent years, which often become uncontrollable due to factors such as the accumulation of biomass caused by the abandonment of agricultural activities in the field. As climate change continues to alter weather patterns and conditions around the world, it is essential for authorities to remain vigilant and develop strategies to prevent these disasters from occurring.