Spain's Early Fire Season Devastates Thousands of Hectares.

Spain's first major wildfire of the year has destroyed over 3,000 hectares of forest and forced 1,500 residents to abandon their homes. An unusually dry winter across parts of southern Europe has reduced moisture in the soil and raised fears of a repeat of 2022, when 785,000 hectares were destroyed in Europe. Spain experienced a record 307,000 hectares of land destroyed by 493 fires last year. Emergency services evacuated eight communities, and more than 500 firefighters supported by 18 planes and helicopters worked throughout the night and on Friday to tackle the blaze near the village of Villanueva de Viver, in the Valencia region.