Spain is rolling out a massive police operation and public safety campaign ahead of a rare total solar eclipse today that will coincide with one of the country’s highest-risk periods for wildfires.
Regional governments along the eclipse path across Spain – offering the best views of the solar event in mainland Europe – are seeking to corral an expected influx of six million people by designating 660 official viewing sites, along with parking and camping areas.
More than 35,000 officers will be deployed in a security operation to minimise the risks – such as fires caused by dropped cigarettes – linked to large gatherings in natural areas, Virginia Barcones, secretary-general for Civil Protection and Emergencies at Spain’s Interior Ministry, told Reuters.
A control room in Madrid seen by Reuters is where authorities will lead a surveillance operation in co-ordination with regional governments.
The full solar eclipse, visible in totality only from Spain and Iceland early evening today, offers an example of how climate change will reshape the management of major public events.
Several Spanish regions are under alerts issued by weather agency Aemet for the day of the eclipse due to temperatures of up to 40C and a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ wildfire risk.
Spain, along with France and Greece, has already battled heatwaves and severe wildfires this summer across an increasingly tinder-dry Europe.
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