Galicia heatwave triggers forest fires and weather alerts

Galicia is experiencing an intense heatwave, with MeteoGalicia and Aemet issuing orange and red alerts across several provinces. Temperatures in the Rías Baixas and Pontevedra are expected to reach or exceed 37 degrees Celsius, while parts of Ourense could see temperatures as high as 42 degrees.

The extreme heat has triggered forest fires in the region. In Ponteareas, a fire in the Nogueira parish has burned at least 20 hectares, prompting the activation of multiple ground and aerial emergency services, including helicopters and planes. A separate fire in Soutomaior burned approximately 1.5 hectares before being stabilized.

Public areas, including beaches in Vigo and A Lanzada, as well as rivers in Allariz, have seen high volumes of people seeking relief from the heat. Traffic congestion has also been reported on roads leading to popular coastal destinations like Sanxenxo and O Grove.