On Sunday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the regions of Orense and León that have been affected by the wildfires, accompanied by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
During his appearance, Sánchez offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed solidarity with those injured and others who have lost their homes or livelihoods due to the fires.
The PM praised the dedication and professionalism of public servants, stressing that "we are all the State", and underscoring the importance of responding to crises in a “unified and coordinated” way.
To bolster firefighting efforts, he announced the deployment of an additional 500 military personnel, with the approval of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), to be dispatched across the various wildfire zones nationwide.
Sánchez calls for a national climate pact
Sánchez spoke firmly about the deliberate nature of the fires, asserting that “there can be no impunity” and that those responsible “must face justice.” However, he placed special emphasis on the importance of tackling the underlying structural causes of the issue.
“The climate emergency is becoming more severe and accelerating, particularly in regions like the Iberian Peninsula,” he stated, linking the wildfires to other extreme weather events such as DANA. He also reminded the public that his government’s first action in the 2018 Council of Ministers was to declare a climate emergency.
In light of the situation, Sánchez announced a proposal for a national pact to address both mitigation and adaptation efforts in response to the climate emergency. As he explained, this pact "concerns all public administrations, parliamentary groups, civil society as a whole, science and, in short, the country as a whole."
The PM emphasised that while the current fires will eventually be put out and efforts will be made to rebuild the affected areas, it is crucial "to undertake a deeper, more thorough, and more reliable reflection that ensures stronger safeguards in response to the accelerating effects of the climate emergency."
He noted that the proposed pact aims to offer concrete solutions to the everyday challenges already impacting citizens, "regardless of the season."
Sánchez warns 'complex days' are ahead
The scale of the crisis is evident in the numbers: 39 active fires across the two regions, with 25 outbreaks in León alone. In the province of Orense, the fires have destroyed over 42,000 hectares, leading to the evacuation of 24 towns and the displacement of more than 1,400 people.
In Galicia, 68 residents remain confined to their homes as the flames continue to spread, and thirteen roads are still closed, including stretches of the N-621 and N-525.
Sánchez cautioned that there are "complex days" ahead, as the weather conditions are not favourable for firefighting efforts.
