The heat wave left more than 1,100 dead and “is the largest and louder since we have records,” said the Spanish president.
After 16 days of a catastrophic heat wave, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez announced Tuesday that he will declare the emergency in the areas affected by forest fires next Tuesday. The environmental crisis has already left a balance of more than 1,100 dead and 31,500 hectares completely incinerated.
Before the severity of the victims for the heat wave, Sanchez activated the European Civil Protection mechanismor, which allowed the entry of help from Germany and Italy and declared that he made available “all available means ” Despite the terrible consequences.
Expanding beyond the causes, it is undeniable that the weather is changing, that the climatic crisis is aggravated and that its effects are increasingly notorious. Faced with phenomena such as fires or damage, he said, the only possible response is unity between institutions. That cooperation, he added, must be based on mutual loyalty and the provision of economic resources that allow this situation to be faced. It is not only about acting when emergencies occur, he warned, but also preparing the territories to face them.
More than a thousand dead for fires in Spain
The heat wave that hit Spain between August 3 and 18 left a balance of 1,149 attributable deathsaccording to estimates of Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). It was one of the longest episodes in the last five decades and had direct consequences in the health and in the territory.
The “MOMO” monitoring system of the ISCIII, which analyzes daily mortality from historical trends, calculated that excess deaths in those 16 days is related to extreme temperatures. Although the system cannot establish an absolute causality, the figures constitute the best approximation available on the impact of the climatic phenomenon.
Opposition criticisms
On the other hand, the president of the Board of Estremadura, María Guardiola Martín declared not to be satisfied with the actions of the National Government qualifying the aid as “insufficient” and “It has been late“
Despite Guardiola’s nonconformity and criticisms of different opponents of the Popular Party (PP), the Spanish president defended himself by saying that “From the first moment, the Civil Protection system and the government have been available to the autonomous government. ” In addition, Sánchez prompted both citizens and the media to remain attentive to the indications of the authorities.
Source: Ambito
