The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) uses it for its forecasts Satellite images provided by Copernicus and in its latest update, it shows a balance of 222,800 hectares affected by fire in Spain so far this year, 11.2% more than on July 23.
These data confirm that Spain is facing a crisis. worst fire wave in historical series Managed by EFFIS (started in 2006), so far managed until 2012 when fires affected 189,376 hectares; It was followed by 2017 with 130,920. According to records dating back to 1968 on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition, the worst year of fires in Spanish history was 1985, with 484,475 hectares of forest devastated. In 2012, 218,956 burned.
obstacle 400.00 hectares While it was overcome in 1978, 1989 and 1994, it occurred in 2004, which is considered the largest fire in the history of the country, with the burning of 30,000 hectares between the municipalities of Minas de Riotinto (Huelva) and Berrocal (Seville).
Turning to satellite data, the number of hectares affected by fire in Spain since January triples the average of 66,965 hectares recorded between 2006 and 2021. It also exceeds all that burned in 2021 (84,827 hectares), 2020 (61,099) and 2019 (63,853).
Spain was the country most affected by the fires
According to the same source, Spain has been the European country most affected by the fires so far this yearfollowed by Romania (149,362 hectares), Portugal (52,436), France (42,941 hectares), Croatia (30,934 hectares) and Italy (31,987 hectares). By contrast, the countries that saw the highest percentage of their land destroyed by the flames are as follows: Romaniawith 0.63%; Portugalwith 0.57%; Croatiawith 0.54% and Spainwith 0.44%.
The figures estimated by EFFIS are well above those provided by the Spanish Government, which has devastated 122,000 hectares since the beginning of the year, based on data from autonomous communities. 52,000 more than July 10. According to Ecological Transition, it can take years to know the true impact of a fire, and data needs to be taken in the field for greater certainty.
Among the most devastating fires of the two and a half weeks, which burned more than all of 2021, Losacioin Zamora, which two people died and according to the predictions of the Junta de Castilla y León, based on Copernicus images, 36,000 hectares.
However, the exact number of calcined surfaces may be lower, as there may be unburned areas within the fire devastated area. If this area is approved, it will be the biggest fire in Spain since records began and 10,000 hectares to those registered in the reserve in mid-June Sierra de la CulebraFire caused by lightning Losacio.
Thousands of hectares were also burned in fires in Carballeda de Valdeorras (Orense), Folgoso (Lugo), Ateca (Zaragoza), Los Realejos (Tenerife), Bages (Barcelona) or Casas de Miravete, Ladrillar (Las Hurdes) and Jerte. in Extremadura.
Source: Informacion
