Spain battles major wildfire in Aragon amid heatwave and climate concerns
A large wildfire in Spain's Aragon region has forced the evacuation of at least five villages. Military and civilian crews are battling the blaze in extreme heat, just a week after the country's deadliest wildfire in recent history.
The fire started near the town of Ores in the northeastern Aragon region on 15 July during an intense heatwave. It spread rapidly through dry vegetation, prompting the precautionary evacuation of at least five villages. Thick smoke blanketed the area as fast-moving flames threatened homes, farmland, and critical infrastructure. Spain's Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) was deployed alongside civilian firefighting crews, working around the clock in challenging conditions. Ground teams used high-pressure hoses and firebreak techniques while helicopters and water-bombing aircraft conducted repeated drops to slow the fire's advance across rugged terrain. Regional official Roberto Bermúdez de Castro described it as one of the most serious fire emergencies in Aragon in recent years, with resources stretched as crews battled multiple active fronts. Firefighters faced extreme conditions, including temperatures approaching 40°C, very low humidity, and shifting winds, leading to unpredictable fire behavior. The blaze comes just one week after Spain's deadliest wildfire in recent history, which killed 13 people in Almería province, including seven British nationals, raising concerns about wildfire preparedness. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged full government support for emergency operations and affected communities. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), nearly 400,000 hectares burned across Spain during last year's record wildfire season. Experts warn that increasingly frequent heatwaves, prolonged drought, and climate change are exacerbating wildfire risks, particularly in southern Europe.
