Spain is grappling with a wave of historic wildfires burning across more than 51 locations nationwide, forcing over 4,000 residents to spend the night away from their homes, authorities said Sunday. According to local officials cited by news agency EFE, wildfires remain active in at least 25 areas in Castile and Leon, 14 in Galicia, 12 in Asturias, and several locations in the southern region of Extremadura. The worst-hit areas include Ourense in Galicia; the provinces of Leon and Zamora in Castile and Leon; Somiedo Natural Park in Asturias; and Plasencia in Extremadura. In Castile and Leon alone, more than 3,250 people have been displaced. In Galicia, firefighting teams have been battling the flames for several days, with over 47,000 hectares (116,139 acres) of land already scorched. Hundreds of people from the Ourense region are now sheltering in sports centers, emergency facilities, or staying with family and friends. In the Extremadura region, 200 residents were evacuated from the municipality of Jarilla in Caceres province. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to visit the hardest-hit areas — Ourense and Leon — on Sunday to assess the damage and meet with emergency responders. Firefighting operations are being reinforced by Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), along with aerial support provided through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism. Meanwhile, neighboring Portugal is also battling intense wildfires, with 78 active fire sites across the country, including eight classified as major blazes. Portugal's National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection said that 5,148 firefighters are currently deployed, supported by 42 aircraft and 305 ground vehicles. Authorities in both countries have warned that high temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions are likely to prolong the fire risk in the days ahead. — Agencies
