'It's a hell of a situation': Spain grapples with destructive wildfires
Spain is facing a severe wildfire crisis that has forced over 70,000 evacuations, with extreme heatwaves complicating firefighting efforts. Officials describe the situation as a major natural catastrophe, though some progress is being reported in containment.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe underscore the urgent challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events.
Image source, Getty Images By Rorey Bosotti Published 28 July 2026, 12:53 BST Updated 11 minutes ago For the past week, firefighters have been tackling a series of wildfires ravaging the Spanish countryside, threatening dozens of communities and forcing more than 70,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Three fires in the Madrid region have caused special concerns, with a new heatwave expected to hit Spain from Wednesday, fuelling fears that firefighting efforts could be hindered.
"It's a hell of a situation," said Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso, as she visited affected areas on Monday alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Sánchez spoke on Tuesday of highly challenging hours and days ahead but of light beginning to appear "at the end of the tunnel".
Temperatures are expected to approach 40C in some regions in the coming days, with the heatwave forecast to last at least until Sunday.
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