Spain and Portugal Face Extreme Heat Wave and High Fire Risks
A new heat wave is sweeping across large areas of the Iberian Peninsula, expected to last until the end of the week. This prompted authorities in Spain to issue orange alerts in 12 autonomous communities, while the Portuguese government declared a state of alert due to “very high” fire risks.
The Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has warned of unprecedented temperature rises, exceeding seasonal averages by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, with temperatures predicted to reach 43 degrees Celsius in parts of Extremadura and Andalusia.
A “very high” risk of fires has been noted in several regions, particularly in the northwest of the country, where firefighters are tackling a major blaze that has consumed around 570 hectares in the town of Villardefrancos.
In neighboring Portugal, authorities have issued similar warnings for the period from Sunday to Thursday, with hundreds of firefighters engaged in battles against multiple fire outbreaks, particularly in the Vila Real region in the north.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), over 25,700 hectares of forest have burned in Portugal since the beginning of 2025.
