Trains between Madrid and Barcelona were suspended due to a fire in Spain

Train service on the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona was suspended on Thursday due to a wildfire that broke out near the tracks in Catalonia. The rail operator Renfe took this step at the request of firefighters, who are currently battling the blaze. 

The rail service disruptions come as Spain prepares for the first heat wave of the season, which the national meteorological service says will lead to a sharp increase in the risk of wildfires starting Sunday. 

Meteorologists have warned that temperatures will begin to rise on Saturday, with a sharp increase expected on Sunday, particularly in the north and northwest of the country—in Galicia and along the Cantabrian coast. Last summer, Spain and Portugal already experienced a 16-day heat wave, which was the most intense on record and contributed to the spread of devastating wildfires. Scientists say that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change caused by human activity.

This was reported by Reuters.

The European Union is preparing one of the largest forest fire response programs in history to better address the risks during the summer of 2026. This involves a large-scale deployment of firefighters, aircraft, and experts in countries where the risk of wildfires is highest.