Galicia Faces Unprecedented Wildfire Crisis as Flames Scorch Thousands of Hectares

Galicia, particularly the province of Ourense, is facing a devastating wildfire crisis as alert level 2 remains in effect for the entire region. The situation has escalated dramatically, with firefighters battling persistent flames that have scorched hundreds of hectares overnight. As of Saturday morning, 18 wildfires remain active, consuming nearly 43,500 hectares—most of which are located in Ourense. The scale of destruction in Ourense has been unprecedented. The merging of fires in Chandrexa de Queixa and Mormentelos in Vilariño de Conso has resulted in a single blaze exceeding 16,000 hectares, marking it as the largest wildfire in Galicia's recorded history, according to the Xunta's official records. This record may vary from different entities and organizations. Other large fires are also threatening Ourense, and if not contained promptly, they could surpass the scale of the O Courel wildfire in Lugo from 2022, which affected 11,800 hectares and was previously the second largest in the region's history. Manuel Rodríguez, the Director General of Forest Defense, has labeled this new wave of wildfires as the most serious in Galician history, with significant losses already reported. The fire in Oímbra A Granxa, for example, has already consumed 10,500 hectares. Additionally, the province of Ourense is not alone in facing these challenges; other provinces like Pontevedra are also reporting fiery devastation. The Agolada O Sexo fire is currently burning 400 hectares and has prompted a level 2 preventive alert due to its proximity to residential areas. Currently, a total of 18 large wildfires are classified as active. The latest reports from Rural Affairs confirm twelve of these infernos in Ourense, with flames unifying in vast areas. These include the notable fires at: - Oímbra A Granxa: 10,500 hectares - A Mezquita A Esculqueira: 9,000 hectares - Various smaller fires across Vilardevós and elsewhere in the province. Among the newly emerged active fires in Carballeda de Avia, one in Vilar de Condes has already burned 200 hectares, and another fire in the same region has affected 20 hectares. In A Coruña, one active fire in Muxía Nosa Señora da O has burned 50 hectares. While some fires remain unextinguished, others have been stabilized, such as the situation in Toques, which is now marked as deactivated with 300 hectares burned. Fires in A Fonsagrada Monteseiro and Verín Mourazos continue to pose risks, although they remain under control. The fire reported at Ourense Seixalbo has been extinguished, but not before causing considerable loss, with an estimated 10,779 hectares burned. As the situation develops, it becomes crucial for residents and authorities to remain vigilant. Continuous updates from local news sources like El HuffPost will keep the public informed of ongoing firefighting efforts and safety measures as the region battles this severe wildfire season. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2