Spain News

Spain’s Hurricane Katrina Moment Saw Officials Ignoring Warnings

As a deadly storm bore down on Valencia on Oct. 29, the regional president was attending a ceremony to recognize his work on sustainable tourism. Three hours earlier, Spain’s national climate agency had issued a red alert about the rains …

Spain’s Barcelona Faces Drought ‘Emergency’ in September

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Authorities in Spain’s parched northeast warned Tuesday that Barcelona and a wide surrounding area that’s home to some 6 million people could face even tighter restrictions of water use in the coming months. Samuel Reyes, head …

Drought will Cause Crop Failures in Spain, Farmers Warn

MADRID (AP) — Drought now affects 60% of the Spanish countryside, with crops like wheat and barley likely to fail entirely in four regions, the main Spanish farmers’ association said on Thursday. Spain’s long-term drought is causing “irreversible losses” to …

1500 Evacuated as Spain’s Fire Season Starts Early

MADRID (AP) — More than 1,500 people were evacuated as a major forest fire raged in Spain’s eastern Castellon province on Friday, marking an early start to the nation’s fire season amid bone dry conditions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez …

Spain: Long-Term Drought to Bring More Heatwaves, Wildfires

MADRID (AP) — Spain has officially entered a period of long-term drought, owing to high temperatures and low rainfall over the past three years, and likely faces another year of heatwaves and forest fires. The country’s Aemet weather agency said …

Ex-Safety Chief Pleads Innocence in Spain Train Crash Case

MADRID (AP) — The former head of safety for Spain’s state-owned rail infrastructure company told a court Thursday that he was not responsible for the 2013 train crash that killed 80 passengers and injured 145 more. Andres Cortabitarte and the …

Spain, Germany Battle Wildfires Amid Unusual Heat Wave

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Firefighters in Spain and Germany struggled to contain wildfires on Sunday amid an unusual heat wave in Western Europe for this time of year. The worst damage in Spain has been in the northwest province of …

Spanish Island Volcano Eruption Hits Local Record of 85 Days

MADRID (AP)–A volcanic eruption in Spain’s Canary Islands shows no sign of ending after 85 days, becoming the island of La Palma’s longest eruption on record Sunday. The eruption has surged and ebbed since it first began spewing lava on …

Island Turns into Open-Air Lab For Tech-Savvy Volcanologists

LAS MANCHAS, Canary Islands (AP) — They come with eagle-eyed drones and high-precision instruments. Aided by satellites, they analyze gas emissions and the flows of molten rock. On the ground, they collect everything from the tiniest particles to “lava bombs” …

Ash From Erupting Volcano Forces Spanish Islanders Indoors

SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA, Canary Islands (AP) — Authorities on the Spanish island of La Palma are telling people who live near an erupting volcano to stay indoors because of a heavy fall of ash that has forced the …