Fires in Spain’s northwestern Zamora province forced residents to prepare for evacuation from their homes on Thursday as the country endured one of its most destructive wildfire seasons in 20 years, fuelled by extreme heat and suspected arson.
Smoke turned the skies orange-red as blazes spread across rural areas, driven by one of the country’s longest heatwaves on record.
In the village of Pias, residents said they're prepared to flee.
“It’s bad because we have fire everywhere, so we will try and get out. We are ready to go. When they tell us we can, we will go,” said local resident Maripaz.
Nearby in Villanueva de la Sierra, residents worked to create firebreaks using tractors.
“In the village some people have tractors and they have made a firewall in a flat area with fewer hills. We are waiting for the fire to come down to try and stop it, so it does not get to the houses in the village,” said 52-year-old teacher Loli Baz.
Spain has already lost about 148,000 hectares (571 square miles) to wildfires this year, the second-highest total since 2006, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. That accounts for more than a quarter of the land burned in the European Union so far in 2025.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said two Canadair water-bombing planes from France arrived on Thursday after Spain requested European assistance.
Police in Zamora arrested a man accused of allegedly starting a fire on land used for illegal rubbish dumping. The blaze spread quickly in the hot weather, burning 4,000 hectares (15.4 square miles) and injuring five people.
Authorities said 10 people have been arrested since 1 June in connection with wildfires, with investigations ongoing into another 38 suspected cases of deliberate arson. Convicted arsonists face up to five years in prison and substantial fines.
A significant development in the complex Azerbaijan - Armenia scenario is the growing confrontation between Armenia’s political leadership and the A...
A significant number of members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), affiliated with the PKK/YPG, have reportedly defected in Aleppo as Syrian secur...
Tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in Tehran and across at least 28 cities in a wave of anti-government demonstrations, now enter...
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face a strong response from the United States if its authorities kill protesters amid ongoing u...
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivit...
A significant number of members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), affiliated with the PKK/YPG, have reportedly defected in Aleppo as Syrian security forces prepare to deploy in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods, Aleppo Governor Azzam Gharib said on Thursday.
Tens of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in Tehran and across at least 28 cities in a wave of anti-government demonstrations, now entering their twelfth day.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face a strong response from the United States if its authorities kill protesters amid ongoing unrest.
Iran is now facing a near‑total internet blackout as anti-government protests sweep the country. Major cities including Tehran have seen connectivity drop sharply, leaving millions of residents isolated from online communication.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Snow and ice stalled travellers in northwest Europe on Wednesday, forcing around a thousand to spend the night in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport but delighting others who set out to explore a snow-blanketed Paris on sledges and skis.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Türkiye’s UN envoy called on the international community on Thursday to maintain strong support for the elimination of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons, stressing that the task is both a legal obligation and a critical priority for regional security and humanitarian protection.
Georgia has said it will clarify the circumstances surrounding the U.S. seizure of a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic and is seeking information on its Georgian crew members.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it may deploy additional federal agents to Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret on Thursday over the decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from 31 entities linked to the United Nations.
A significant number of members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), affiliated with the PKK/YPG, have reportedly defected in Aleppo as Syrian security forces prepare to deploy in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods, Aleppo Governor Azzam Gharib said on Thursday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment