Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Spanish wildfire that ripped through Galicia region ‘clearly intentional’ as blazes ‘ignited simultaneously’ – official

Spanish wildfire that ripped through Galicia region ‘clearly intentional’ as blazes ‘ignited simultaneously’ – official

The environment chief in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region, Manuel Rodriguez, has announced that a devastating wildfire that tore through 1,000 hectares of forest over two days was “clearly intentional.”
The fire, which began on Monday afternoon near the town of Ribas de Sil, had spread through over 1,000 hectares of forest by Tuesday, despite the emergency services having deployed 49 ground teams, 14 helicopters, and eight planes to battle the blaze. While a fire break has now been established, officials have warned the flames are “not [yet] stabilized or under control.”

“Investigators have identified various points that ignited simultaneously ... Whoever did this knew perfectly well it would cause a lot of damage,” Rodriguez declared.

The smoke billowing from the fires has impacted visibility on local roads and railway lines, limiting travel in the area. The current weather conditions have presented an additional challenge, as hot temperatures and low humidity are helping the flames to spread. However, rain is predicted, which could aid the firefighting efforts.

Spain is among a number of European and Mediterranean nations to have been impacted by wildfires in recent weeks. This year alone, it has lost 74,260 hectares of land to blazes, which is higher than the yearly average over the past decade but still lower than the worst year on record, 2012, when 190,000 hectares were destroyed.

France, Greece, Italy, and Turkey have all been ravaged by forest fires, with high temperatures fueling blazes throughout the summer, and the Greek prime minister sacking his public order minister over the poor handling of that country’s wildfire crisis. Elsewhere, Algeria and Bolivia have also seen blazes rip through significant areas of forest.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×