Spain: Sentmenat Fire Forces Evacuations Amid Catalonia Blazes

Three major wildfires broke out simultaneously in Catalonia, Spain, on Monday, July 6, near Sentmenat, Anoia, and Artesa de Segre, straining local firefighters and prompting the government to call in Spain's Military Emergencies Unit for help. The Sentmenat fire, sparked by an excavator, burned about 90 hectares and forced evacuations and confinements in nearby towns.

Spain: Sentmenat Fire Forces Evacuations Amid Catalonia Blazes 2

Three major wildfires broke out simultaneously in Catalonia, Spain, on Monday, July 6, near Sentmenat, Anoia, and Artesa de Segre, straining local firefighters and prompting the government to call in Spain's Military Emergencies Unit for help. The Sentmenat fire, sparked by an excavator, burned about 90 hectares and forced evacuations and confinements in nearby towns.

Spain to declare areas affected by wildfires as "catastrophe zones"

STORY: Spain to declare areas affected by wildfires as "catastrophe zones" DATELINE: Aug. 23, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:16 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Pedro Sanchez visiting areas affected by forest fire 2. various of wildfires around the municipality of Bejis 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): PEDRO SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister 4. Pedro Sanchez shaking hands with members of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) STORYLINE: Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday said that the areas affected by wildfires this year will be declared as "catastrophe zones" in the meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday. Sanchez made the declaration while visiting the region around the municipality of Bejis in eastern Spain, which has been badly affected by a forest fire over the past week. The fire has now been brought under control but has left around 20,000 hectares of woodland and scrub destroyed. According to the Spanish government, 223,000 hectares of land have been affected by wildfires this summer,