Heatwaves, wildfires, and storms rising in Spain: Experts warn of growing climate danger

Spain is facing more frequent and intense extreme weather events like heatwaves, wildfires, storms, and floods, raising serious concerns for public health and the environment. A climate expert has urged people to stay alert and prepare for worsening conditions.

Javier Martin-Vide, a professor of physical geography at the University of Barcelona, said, “Spanish people need both mental strength and preparation to cope with the worsening weather.”

At the end of June and beginning of July, temperatures in many parts of Spain reached up to 42°C. This week, Spain’s weather department also issued warnings for heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding in some areas.

According to Professor Martin-Vide, such high temperatures increase the risk of wildfires. In just the past week, over 3,300 hectares of land have burned in northeastern Catalonia. A few days earlier, another fire destroyed around 6,000 hectares of mostly farmland in the same region.

“These wildfires spread quickly in extreme heat,” he said. “We’ve already seen large fires in Catalonia, and similar incidents may keep happening throughout the summer.”

He added that extreme events like wildfires, floods, storms, and strong winds are likely to become more common every year.

Based on climate studies, Professor Martin-Vide warned that temperatures will continue to rise in the coming years. “Heatwaves will begin earlier, last longer, and become more intense,” he said.

He especially warned about the impact of heat on older people. According to Spain’s Health Ministry, 2,020 people died from heat-related issues last summer, with 90% of them over the age of 75.

As temperatures continue to rise, the risks of wildfires, storms, and floods in Spain are growing. Experts say extreme weather is becoming the new normal, and they advise both the public and authorities to take climate risks seriously and prepare in advance.