Overview

• As of August 17, Spain is battling around 20 active fires rated at the highest danger level in Galicia, Castilla y León and Extremadura.
• AEMET forecasts sustained temperatures up to 43–45 °C, which is hampering containment efforts and exhausting firefighting crews.
• Under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Germany has dispatched a specialised 67-member firefighting unit, while France, Italy and the Netherlands have sent water-bombers.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cut short his vacation to visit Ourense and León and pledged a national pact on the climate emergency to guide recovery and prevention.
• The Interior Ministry reports 27 arrests for suspected arson since June, with investigations ongoing into about 92 more suspects.