Massive Wildfires Rage in Spain and Portugal, Threatening Tourist Areas

Following a severe heatwave last week, Europe is grappling with massive wildfires spreading across Spain and Portugal, including the popular Costa Brava tourist region. The fires began near La Bisbal d'Empordà in Spain on Saturday morning, forcing over 12,000 residents from 10 municipalities in the Empordà area to either shelter indoors or evacuate immediately as thick smoke and towering flames engulfed nearby forests.

In Portugal, wildfires have been raging since Wednesday, particularly around the municipality of Vizela in the Viseu district. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro warned that the entire country faces a very high risk of fire. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius in some areas, prompting 12 out of 18 districts to be placed under red alert through the weekend. At least nine people have been injured in Portugal, including one civilian with severe burns and three firefighters with minor injuries.

Authorities deployed around 1,000 firefighters, supported by 300 vehicles and eight aircraft, to combat the main fire zones, while over 100 firefighters tackled four smaller blazes. The ongoing fires follow a recent large wildfire in southern France that led to the evacuation of 3,000 residents and tourists. Emergency services continue their efforts to contain the flames amid extreme heat and dry conditions across the region.