Red alert for fires during the eclipse
EL RIGOR · 10 de agosto de 2026, 12:59 · 2 min read
Cross-checked in sources from El País, elDiario.es
On Wednesday, 12 August, during the total solar eclipse, Spain will face a very high or extreme risk of wildfires across large parts of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued an urgent warning to citizens, urging them to be extremely careful if they venture into the countryside to observe the astronomical event.
According to Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for AEMET, "there will be a very high or extreme risk of fires in most of the territory, particularly in the interior of Galicia, Castilla y León, northern Aragon, and Catalonia, and in isolated areas of southern Spain." AEMET emphasises that "any fire that starts will be very difficult to control."
In response to this maximum fire risk, several autonomous communities have raised their alert levels and restricted vehicle access to some natural spaces. Throughout the day, there will be an unprecedented deployment of police and civil protection forces. The government has been preparing a Specific Civil Protection Plan and a Special Security Plan for months to coordinate the response from different administrations.
The National Traffic Authority (DGT) has declared the day an Event of High Impact on Traffic (EVAAT) due to the expected millions of movements towards the totality zone. The sky will generally be clear throughout the day of the eclipse, although there will be clouds over the Cantabrian Sea and the Mediterranean coasts of southern Andalusia. "Cumulus clouds may also form in the mountains of northern and eastern Spain, with possible isolated thunderstorms in the eastern Pyrenees and the Betic Systems," announces Rubén del Campo.
José Miguel Viñas, a meteorologist from Meteored, warns that "the areas within the totality band where visibility of the eclipse is most at risk are northern Galicia, western Asturias, the Cantabrian mountain range area, and the Iberian System region shared by Teruel and Castellón." The weather forecast maintains the scenario announced since last Friday, with clear skies over much of the territory, which increases the risk of wildfires.
The risk of wildfires during the eclipse is a real and urgent concern. Authorities have taken preventive measures, but the ultimate responsibility lies with the citizens. AEMET insists on the need to take extra precautions and avoid any behaviour that could endanger the safety and natural heritage of the country. With millions of movements expected, the challenge will be to maintain calm and security during this unique astronomical event.
Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.