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Around six million people are expected to gather across Spain to witness a rare total solar eclipse, prompting authorities to deploy more than 35,000 security and emergency personnel amid extreme heat and an elevated wildfire risk.
The country’s weather office has forecast temperatures of up to 40°C in some areas on the day of the eclipse, while several regions remain under high to very high wildfire-risk alerts.
Officials are particularly concerned that dry conditions, heavy traffic and large crowds gathering in rural areas could allow a small incident to develop into a major wildfire.
Authorities have prepared 660 designated viewing areas, parking facilities and campsites for visitors. The government estimates that as many as 1.5 million people could travel by car to rural areas in northern and central Spain, including locations along the eclipse’s path of totality.
More than 35,000 security and emergency personnel will be deployed across the country. A coordination centre in Madrid will monitor the situation in cooperation with regional authorities.
Virginia Barcones, Spain’s Civil Protection and Emergencies chief, said special measures were being taken to prevent fires linked to large crowds, including those caused by discarded cigarette butts.
The wildfire threat is particularly serious this year. Nearly 200,000 hectares have already been destroyed by fires across Spain, almost six times the area burned during the same period last year.
Three major fires were still active on Monday evening in Huelva, Segovia and Huesca, further raising concerns ahead of the eclipse.
Authorities have urged visitors to avoid parking in unauthorised areas, refrain from littering and using barbecues, and stay away from fire-prone areas unless necessary.
Spain is now preparing for the rare celestial spectacle while facing unusually dangerous conditions for wildfires.
