Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.
Ambrey: Cameroon-flagged tanker issues distress call following explosion abroad, approximately 60NM south of Yemen's Ahwar.
Araghchi: Iran adopted a constructive approach in its engagement to ensure the European Union and the E3 fully honored their commitments and lifted all sanctions.
Araghchi: After a year of Iran’s full compliance with the agreement, it began implementing gradual, proportionate, and reversible compensatory steps in accordance with its recognized rights under the deal.
Araghchi: Iran demonstrated the utmost restraint in the face of repeated and fundamental violations and made extensive efforts to restore balance and preserve the agreement.
In his letter, Araghchi stated: The E3 failed to fulfill their obligations and instead imposed additional illegal sanctions on Iranian individuals and institutions.
Araghchi: These coercive measures constituted a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter, causing severe disruption in the implementation of the agreement.
Araghchi: Washington initially refrained from fulfilling its commitments, then withdrew from the agreement, reimposed its illegal and unilateral sanctions, and even expanded them.
Araghchi: UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has expired and fully ceased to be in effect as of today, in accordance with its explicit provisions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Reimposing sanctions on Iran is illegal

Villages evacuated as 'very large' wildfire ravages south-west Spain

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 20 May 2023 13:05
3 Min Read

Hundreds of firemen are battling a blaze that has spread to at least 7,500 hectares in northern Extremadura.

  • x
  • Villages evacuated as 'very large' wildfire ravages south-west Spain
    A view of a fire burning in Pinofranqueado, Spain May 18, 2023, in this screen grab taken from a handout video. Emergency Military Unit (Ume) Handout. (Reuters)

Hundreds of civilian and military firefighters are battling a wildfire in southwest Spain that has burnt at least 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres) and caused the evacuation of over 500 residents since it erupted on Wednesday evening.

Strong winds are hampering efforts to battle the "very large and difficult" fire in the Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata districts of northern Extremadura, according to the regional administration, which claims the wildfire was deliberately sparked.

Read more: Canada wildfires force Wisconsin to issue air quality warning

Three communities, Cadalso, Descargamara, and Robledillo de Gata, have been evacuated, and three major routes have been blocked.

According to the regional administration, more than 500 firemen, including personnel of the military emergency unit, had been sent and were attempting to suppress the fire using 10 earthmovers, six aircraft, eight helicopters, and 23 road vehicles.

Extremadura’s president, Guillermo Fernández Vara said the problem was not human and material resources but rather "wind and gusts of up to 60km per hour, which are making it incredibly difficult to control the fire."

Vara explained that the person who started the fire knew what they were doing since the pine trees are comparable to petrol cans and the pine cones "like flame-throwers."

Related News

Heavy rains kill at least 28 in Mexico, thousands displaced

New Zealand’s oceans warming 34% faster than global average: Report

In preparation for next week's municipal and regional elections, Spain's prime minister canceled a campaign trip to the region. Pedro Sánchez stated that he was actively monitoring the situation and extended his entire support to anyone impacted.

Begoa Garca, the head of Extremadura's agriculture department, advised people in the region to report anything unusual to authorities, adding that neighbors " “know that this was done on purpose.”

Local emergency authorities also encouraged residents to avoid the impacted regions in order to avoid clogging evacuation routes.

Marcos Hernández, who lives in Pinofranqueado, the municipality where the fire started, told Efe News that residents felt "very angry" and powerless as the wildfire raged on.

Fires in Las Hurdes consumed more than 8,000 hectares of land in 2003, while blazes in the same region consumed more than 5,000 hectares last July.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System, wildfires consumed more than 315,000 hectares of land in Spain last year.

The Spanish government agreed to a €2.2 billion (£1.9 billion) plan last week to assist farmers and consumers in dealing with an ongoing drought aggravated by the warmest and wettest April on record.

Read next: World must brace for 30% more wildfires by 2050: UN

Teresa Ribera, the environment minister, stated that the repercussions of the climate emergency were becoming more visible. "Spain is a country that is used to periods of drought but there’s no doubt that, as a consequence of the climate change we’re experiencing, we’re seeing far more frequent and intense events and phenomena,” she added.

  • Spain
  • wildfires
  • global warming
  • Climate change
  • Climate crisis

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Residents remove debris from a house damaged by Wednesday's two drone strikes, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Afghanistan-Pakistan negotiations to begin in Doha: Exclusive

Palestine Action wins court fight to challenge UK terror ban
Politics

Palestine Action wins court fight to challenge UK 'terror' ban

John Bolton surrenders after classified documents indictment
Politics

John Bolton turns himself in after classified documents indictment

GSF, GMTG slams EU over complicity in Gaza genocide
Politics

GSF, GMTG slam EU over complicity in crimes against Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS