Raging wildfires have been sweeping across Spain, forcing evacuations in rural areas and prompting helicopter-led firefighting efforts.
The fires come amid record heatwaves that have turned Europe into a sweltering sauna above 40 degrees Celsius.
The extreme summer heat has created favorable conditions for rampant wildfires, which have already killed several people and displaced thousands across the continent.
In rural areas of Extremadura, a landlocked autonomous community in the southwest part of Spain, villagers have been forced to evacuate as the fire spread rapidly.
"I was at home when the wildfire started. I later moved to a distant spot to watch the fire's progression. It was very intense. Then someone mentioned evacuating the entire village, so we left," said Florencia, a local resident.
"The terrain here is extremely steep, sloped and rocky, making ground operations nearly impossible, so we rely almost entirely on air support. The winds keep changing, making the fires likely to reignite. As a result, the situation hasn't improved yet. While some areas have been contained, other fires continue to burn," said Antonio, a firefighter.
Many houses have been burned down, and while some residents whose homes were not affected have started to return, many homes remain unoccupied.
"We weren't allowed back into the village until about an hour ago. Some people have come back, while others haven't because they're worried about the fire. Although there are no flames around the village, the wildfire continues to burn in large areas nearby," said Alvarez, another local resident.
More than 59,000 hectares of land have burned in Spain so far in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 25 percent in just the past week, the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) reported on Monday.
With no rain forecast and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many regions, Spain continues to suffer from one of the most prolonged heatwaves on record since data collection began in 1975.
Wildfires ravage Spain as Europe endures heatwaves
