UK holidaymakers are being alerted to a “critical situation” in Spain following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The European Union has issued a stark warning to tourists about the heightened risk of fire in the country, which has been exacerbated by the recent LA blazes.
A 2010 study revealed that over one million hectares of land are vulnerable, with the problem only getting worse. Cristina Montiel Molina, a professor at Madrid’s Complutense University, highlighted the human element in these disasters, stating that 85% of fires are caused by people who are often ignorant of the dangers.
“The situation is dire, and I’m not exaggerating,” she told elDiario, a Spanish news outlet. Echoing her concerns, Lourdes Hernández, a forest fire specialist at WWF, pointed out the reckless urban development in fire-prone zones after the January fires raged through Los Angeles, California.
“We continue to build in dangerous areas without considering fire risk,” Hernández remarked. Additionally, Pascale Vacca, a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, cautioned that Mediterranean homes are not fully safeguarded against such threats.
“We lack specific regulations for building in urban-forest interfaces,” he noted. Montiel Molina issued a grave warning: “We need to act before it’s too late.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office (FCDO) advises travellers to Spain to be aware that wildfires are common during the summer months, including on the islands, reports Birmingham Live.
The Spanish authorities have issued a warning to be vigilant: “Be aware of your environment when visiting or driving through woodland areas. For information on wildfire risk visit the Spanish Meteorological Office (AEMET).”
This alert comes as new legal restrictions, effective just this week, impose a three-year ban on the construction or registration of new holiday rentals in 43 Costa del Sol localities. The measure aims to mitigate the effects of mass tourism, which has sparked discontent among locals and residents over the scarcity of affordable housing and the surge of British holidaymakers.