2,880 square kilometers have been consumed by the flames in Spain so far this year. It shows figures from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). This corresponds to an area almost eight times the size of Mjøsa or clearly larger than the old Vestfold county. In the last 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, an average of 457 km² has burned in the same period. Named heat wave Spain has had several long-lasting heat waves this summer. In the south of Spain, temperatures above 40 degrees were experienced earlier in the year than ever before. In Seville, in the south of the country, a system was introduced this summer where heat waves are given names, as has long been customary for hurricanes. Under the system, heat waves are given names if they reach a certain strength. History’s first named heat wave was “Zoe”, which ravaged Seville at the beginning of August. Now another heat wave is underway. In Seville, according to Yr, 41 degrees were expected on Sunday and 40 degrees on Monday. Burned out houses in Santibanez del Val in northwest Spain. Photo: CESAR MANSO / AFP The escape from the burning train. The heat wave has dried out the landscape, which in turn has led to the many fires. For many Spaniards, the fires have caused them to flee for their lives. On Wednesday, 20 people were injured when a train ran into a fire, writes The Guardian. The driver told the passengers to stay on the train while he backed out. Despite the warning, many passengers panicked and left the train. The result was that three passengers were critically injured and many others suffered burns. Villagers look at their burned-out homes in A Veiga de Cascalla, northern Spain. Photo: MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP Marked smoke 400 kilometers away Neighboring Portugal is also experiencing one of its worst fire years. So far this year, 878 km² have been consumed by the flames, compared to an average of 498 km² in the same period over the past 15 years. On Wednesday last week, it burned so strongly in the east of Portugal that the smell of smoke reached Madrid, 400 kilometers away. The emergency number in Madrid received 380 calls from people who were concerned about the smell of smoke, writes Euronews. A shepherd looks at a wheat field in full fire at Zamora, not far from the border with Portugal. Photo: ISABEL INFANTES / Reuters Crisis in several countries France is experiencing the worst fire summer recorded in the last 15 years. So far, it has burned 621 km², more than seven times as much as the average from 200–2021. Farthest outside the normal is Romania. There, 150 km² have been taken by the flames, 12 times the average. A total of 7,252 km² in the EU have been taken by the flames. That is more than three times the average of 207 km².
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Forest fire record in Spain – new heat wave underway – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
