Wed, 17 Sep 2025

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 Spain counts the cost of 'nightmare' wildfire summer

The country's farming and tourism sectors have been heavily affected by a spate of blazes.

* A wildfire that started after lightning struck a mountain in north-western Spain has burned over 20,000 hectares of land and caused thousands of people to be evacuated.
* The fire was just one of several large blazes that have devastated Spain this summer, burning 0.8% of the country's surface area.
* Honey production, an important industry in rural north-west Spain, has been severely impacted by the fires, with beekeepers losing up to 400 beehives and facing significant losses in honey production.
* Many livestock farmers have also lost animals and pasture due to the fires, with some forced to move their animals to avoid future blazes.
* The tourism industry has also suffered, particularly in areas such as Sanabria Lake, which was shut down due to the spread of the fire, resulting in significant financial losses for local businesses.
* The regional government has promised compensation to affected farmers and businesses, but many are concerned that insurance premiums will increase next year.
* The fires have highlighted the disparities between urban and rural Spain, with many rural areas lacking infrastructure and feeling neglected by central government.
  >>