Spain has attracted a large number of tourists eager to witness the solar eclipse happening on Wednesday. However, authorities are concerned about the heightened risk of wildfires due to the hot weather, urging caution to prevent any fire incidents.
Virginia Barcones, the secretary general for civil protection and emergencies at Spain’s Interior Ministry, emphasized the need to limit activities that could potentially cause sparks, given the recent spate of forest fires in the country.
With a heat wave affecting Europe since May and Spain facing a severe wildfire season, over 603,000 acres of land have already been burned in approximately 400 fires this year, as reported by the European Forest Fire Information System.
To prevent any additional fires during the eclipse, authorities are deploying 35,000 officers to monitor large outdoor gatherings and swiftly address any potential fire outbreaks, as stated by Barcones.
Spain is positioned along the prime viewing location for the solar eclipse, with the path of totality spanning northern Russia, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, northeastern Portugal, and a significant part of northern Spain, culminating at the Balearic Islands, where approximately 15 million people reside.
Only individuals within the path of totality will witness the complete eclipse phenomenon, while Canada will experience a partial eclipse, especially in the eastern regions of Nunavut and Newfoundland.
This solar eclipse marks a rare event for mainland Spain, the first in 120 years, and has spurred a surge in travel activities.
Parts of Europe will see a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. Canada’s not so lucky, but parts of the country will get to see a partial eclipse.
Prior to the eclipse, Spain’s Ministry of the Interior had already implemented special measures to accommodate the expected influx of tourists, resulting in a significant rise in lodging searches along the path of totality, particularly in Valencia, which saw a 245% surge compared to the previous year.
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