Spain has warned of the risk of wildfires due to the influx of tourists for the solar eclipse
Spanish authorities have warned of an increased risk of wildfires ahead of the total solar eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people are heading to the hills and beaches to get a better view of the event. Environment Minister Sara Aagesen stated that the vegetation in the country is extremely dry, and even the smallest spark or moment of carelessness could lead to devastating wildfires, according to The Guardian World.
A prolonged heatwave and lack of rainfall have created conditions conducive to fires. In recent weeks, fires have engulfed large areas of Spain, including a major blaze west of Madrid. The National Meteorological Service (AEMET) reported that July on the Spanish mainland tied for the title of the hottest month on record since observations began in 1961. At the same time, it was the driest July on record: only 4.3 mm of precipitation fell, or 26% of the normal amount for this time of year.
Police expect about 1.5 million additional car trips on the day of the solar eclipse. Authorities fear that heavy traffic in rural areas could block emergency services from reaching the scene in the event of a fire. Drivers are prohibited from parking on the shoulders of roads or near dry vegetation; bans on barbecues and fireworks are also in effect.
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As a precautionary measure, the Valencia region has closed its nature parks and banned walks along rural trails. Spain is one of the best places in Europe to observe the total solar eclipse: the Ministry of Finance expects 460,000 foreign tourists to arrive specifically for this event. The phenomenon will be best visible along a strip about 200 km wide—from A Coruña in the northwest to Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea.
Hospitals are also on standby due to the risk of eye damage to those who look at the Sun without protective glasses. Six brands of such glasses were recalled after the consumer association FACUA deemed them unsafe. Jesús Meray, director of the Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Research Institute, emphasized that protective glasses should be worn before, during, and after the eclipse, as looking directly at the Sun can cause irreversible damage to one’s vision.
