Nearly two-thirds of the losses have occurred since August 5, when EFFIS recorded 380,000 hectares burned. The Iberian Peninsula has been the primary location for these fires.
Spain has over 400,000 hectares scorched, while in the much smaller Portugal, fires have ravaged over 270,000 hectares, equating to 3 percent of the nation’s total land area. In Spain, this is the most severe fire season since 1994, based on government data that dates back to the 1960s.
Both countries have experienced extreme heat recently, drying out forests and making the region highly susceptible to fires. Climate change is intensifying wildfire risks by causing more frequent and severe heat waves and droughts.
However, scientists assert that the main cause of the disastrous fires in Spain and Portugal is the excess of flammable vegetation on abandoned land and the authorities’ lack of preventive actions. This week, Spain’s special prosecutor for environmental issues has initiated an investigation into the absence of fire prevention strategies.
Wildfires also emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and the EU might be approaching a new record for fire-related pollution, according to EFFIS data.
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