Spain, wildfire
Digest more
This year is turning into one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory in Europe. Firefighters are struggling to contain out-of-control wildfires in western Spain and Portugal.
Firefighters have spent days battling blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere. Forecasters said temperatures could pass 111 degrees in some places on Thursday.
Spain's weather agency warned the public on Monday to be "cautious" of the "very high or extreme fire danger."
In Spain, as temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts reached 45 miles per hour, officials ordered the evacuation of 3,700 people across 16 municipalities, the Guardian reported. One man died from burns suffered while trying to free horses from a stable amid the blaze.
Spain's worst wave of wildfires on record spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains on Monday and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
Spain on Friday warned of "very high or extreme fire danger in most of the country," as firefighters there continue battling 14 blazes in temperatures up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
The fires have spread over the regions of Extremadura, Galicia, and Castile and Leon, forcing authorities to suspend rail services and cut access to roads in the area, as well as blocking a 50-kilometre stretch of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail.
Defence minister attributes fires to climate change, heat wave. The Interior ministry said 27 people have been arrested and 92 were under investigation for suspected arson since June.