The British Foreign Office has revised its Spanish travel advice – as the country faces a “very high or extreme” wildfire threat.
Temperatures have soared to 45C in Spain, which has fuelled several blazes, including multiple across northwestern regions in recent days. Soldiers continue to support firefighters across the Galicia and Extremadura regions in particular, both of which border Portugal.
And, with around two weeks left of the school summer holidays, the danger poses a threat to British holidaymakers considering the Iberian Peninsula – or with trips booked there already. The Foreign Office’s website now reads: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October.”
But it doesn’t warn against travelling to Spain, which last year welcomed more than 18 million visits from Brits. Holidaymakers, though, should be aware the smaller, sparsely populated towns, especially across Galicia in the northwestern tip of Spain, have been ravaged by the fires.
Are you in Spain and affected by the wildfires? Contact webnews@mirror.co.uk
For updates on the Spain wildfires, follow our live blog below…
‘Human activity and depopulated villages have played a part’
In Galicia, large stretches of unmanaged vegetation and depopulated villages in forested land have led to the buildup of wildfire fuel, said Adrian Regos, an ecologist at the Biological Mission of Galicia, a research institute.
The fires in Spain have killed four people this year and burned more than 382,000 hectares or about 1,475 square miles, according to the European Union’s European Forest Fire Information System. That surface area is more than twice the size of metropolitan London, more than six times the 2006-2024 average for land burned during the same period.
Air quality deteriorated across large parts of Spain over the past week as a result of the wildfires, data from the EU’s Copernicus climate monitoring agency showed. Smoke from the Iberian Peninsula fires reached France, the UK, and Scandinavia, it said.
Several fires have been caused by human activity. Police have detained 23 people for suspected arson and are investigating 89 more, Spain’s Civil Guard said Tuesday.
Getty Images)
Is southern Spain affected?
The majority of the 18 million visits to Spain from Brits last year were for holidays across southern Spain.
Brits love Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and other areas for their golden beaches and bustling nightlife.
The environment is somewhat different in northern Spain – far more rural and sparse landscapes – and so more prone to wildfires in the summer.
No significant wildfires have been reported across Costa del Sol – home to Málaga, Torremolinos and other tourist destinations – or indeed Costa Blanca, famous for Benidorm.
Foreign Office advice in FULL amid the wildfire threat
The latest guidance from the Foreign Office adds: “Wildfires happen often in Spain, including on the islands, during the summer months. Be aware of your environment when visiting or driving through woodland areas. For information on wildfire risk, visit the Spanish Meteorological Office (AEMET).
“Causing a wildfire is a criminal offence in Spain, even if unintentional. Make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished, do not light barbecues and do not leave empty bottles behind. You can be heavily fined for not following the rules against lighting outdoor barbecues in forest areas. Make sure you know the rules if considering a barbecue.
“Immediately report any fire you see to the emergency services on 112. In the case of wildfires, the situation can change quickly, so you should stay up to date with official advice.”
Spanish Prime Minister speaks out about the wildfires
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the wildfires are as a result of climate change.
He says he feels the consequences will be greatest for farmers and rural communities, of which there are plenty across northern and northwestern Spain.
Science tells us, common sense tells us too, especially that of farmers and ranchers, of those who live in rural areas, that the climate is changing, that the climate emergency is becoming more and more recurrent, more frequent and has an ever greater impact,” Mr Sánchez said.
AFP via Getty Images)
Towns in northern Spain ravaged by the wildfires
The fires in Galicia have ravaged small, sparsely populated towns – forcing locals in many cases to step in before firefighters arrive.
Firefighting units from Germany arrived in northern Spain on Tuesday to help fight the blazes, Spain’s Interior Ministry announced. More than 20 vehicles were deployed to help fight an ongoing blaze in Jarilla in the Extremadura region that borders Portugal, the ministry said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the area Tuesday and spoke of the heat that has fueled the fires. Temperatures across Spain dropped by about 4 degrees Celsius (about 7 degrees Fahrenheit) Tuesday after a 16-day heat wave with several days above 40 C (104 F), Spain’s weather agency reported.
AFP via Getty Images)
Foreign Office updates advice for travel to Spain
Following the major wildfires yesterday, the Foreign Office revised its Spanish travel advisory, stating: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October.”
Officials warn that severe weather conditions can impact numerous Spanish regions, particularly throughout the warmer months.
But crucially, it hasn’t added Spain to the “no go” travel list.
One of Spain’s most destructive wildfire seasons
Spain is experiencing one of the country’s most destructive wildfire seasons in recent decades.
Temperatures are dropping – but they had peaked at 45C last week.
Thousands of firefighters aided by soldiers and water-bombing aircraft continue to fires tearing through parched woodland. It is especially severe in northwestern Spain, where the country’s weather agency AEMET reported a still “very high or extreme” fire risk — particularly in the Galicia region.
Getty Images)