Spain’s Wildfires Close Camino Trail Amid Heatwave Crisis

This August, Spain endured its most destructive wildfire season in two decades, driven by an unprecedented 16-day heatwave that pushed the temperatures up to 45°C. Since the beginning of the year, more than 380,000 hectares have burned, which is greater than six times the 2006 to 2024 average. In response to the escalating emergency, authorities deployed approximately 3,000 military personnel and 50 firefighting aircraft, supported by reinforcements from European partners through the European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism. Despite these efforts, thick smoke continued to hinder aerial operations, and at least four firefighters have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. Evacuations have risen to 31,000 people as wildfires spread rapidly across northern Spain. The intensity of the fires even forced a rare partial closure of the Camino de Santiago, an iconic pilgrimage route and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site. This marks one of the few times in history that this spiritual and cultural trail, walked by pilgrims for centuries, has been disrupted by a natural disaster. In response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez returned early from his holiday to urge lawmakers to forge a national pact on climate emergency response. He stressed that climaterelated disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and called for strengthened prevention strategies.