Extreme Heat Sparks Fire Whirls and Evacuations Near UNESCO Park

Blazing heat and powerful winds have given rise to "fire whirls", compelling the evacuation of numerous residents from areas near a UNESCO-listed national park in northern Spain, officials announced on Monday. The Castile and Leon region witnessed thirteen fires, pushing about 700 individuals to evacuate from half a dozen villages.

While firefighters have managed to extinguish nine fires, four remain active, according to Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the environment chief for the regional government. High temperatures exacerbated the situation, particularly near Las Medulas park, prompting a hasty retreat and resulting in the destruction of homes nearby.

Fire whirls occur at approximately 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in confined valleys, turning into explosive phenomena once exposed to oxygen-rich environments, Suarez-Quinones explained. Scientists point to hotter, drier Mediterranean summers as contributors to the region's heightened wildfire risk. As the heatwave persists, with temperatures potentially hitting 42 C, the threat of wildfires remains ever-present.

(With inputs from agencies.)