Spanish authorities said Thursday that it may take days to control a large forest fire in the northeast of the country, sparking new fears a week after the deadliest disaster of its kind in the country's modern history.

More than 400 firefighters, supported by military reinforcements, are fighting a fire in a sparsely populated area in the Aragon region, where five small villages have been evacuated.

Forest fires

Senior regional government official Roberto Bermúdez de Castro reported that the flames have consumed about 7,600 hectares of forests and farmland.

Related news

In an evening press conference, he described the fire as "one of the most dangerous and complex forest fires" that the Aragon region has seen in years, due to high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. He said: "It will take several days to bring it under control. It will be a difficult fire," adding that the night would provide an "opportunity" to contain it thanks to cooler, calmer winds.

Residents affected

Footage published by firefighters showed flames devouring vast areas of forests and fields, while a huge cumulus cloud from the fire rose into the sky.

Video from helicopters showed flames consuming large parts of forests and fields. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed on X "his solidarity with the residents affected by the fire" and urged people to be cautious and follow authorities' instructions.

Climate change

Scientists say climate change is increasing the duration, intensity, and frequency of heat waves, which creates favorable conditions for forest fires and complicates efforts to fight them. The Aragon region has seen temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in recent days. Spain is still reeling from a forest fire in the province of Almería (southeast) that killed 13 people, including seven Britons and an American, and consumed 7,000 hectares. Forest fires consumed about 400,000 hectares of land in Spain last year, the highest figure recorded by the European Forest Fire Information System in the country.