A large number of tourists have flocked to Spain to witness the solar eclipse happening on Wednesday.
However, the event coincides with high temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires in Spain, prompting concerns for authorities keen on avoiding long-term fire damage due to the surge in astrotourism.
“Spain has faced a challenging summer with several significant forest fires. This is why we need to limit any activities that could potentially cause a spark,” stated Virginia Barcones, the secretary general for civil protection and emergencies at Spain’s Interior Ministry, in an interview with Reuters.
A heatwave has been affecting Europe since May, and Spain is currently experiencing a severe wildfire season. Over 603,000 acres (2,440 square kilometers) of land have already burned in about 400 fires this year, as reported by the European Forest Fire Information System.
To prevent eclipse visitors from contributing to these statistics, authorities are deploying 35,000 officers to monitor large outdoor gatherings on Wednesday to detect and prevent any potential new fires, as per Barcones.
Spain is among the prime locations for viewing Wednesday’s solar eclipse. The totality path, approximately 200 kilometers wide, also traverses parts of northern Russia, eastern Greenland, western Iceland, northeastern Portugal, and a substantial portion of northern Spain, ending at the Balearic Islands. The path is home to around 15 million people, mostly in Spain.
Only those within the path of totality will witness the complete coverage of the sun by the moon. In Canada, a partial eclipse will be observable, with the eastern edges of Nunavut and Newfoundland experiencing the most coverage. Viewers are reminded to use proper eclipse glasses for eye protection.
This solar eclipse will be the first full one visible from mainland Spain in 120 years, causing a surge in travel excitement.
Earlier this summer, Spanish authorities announced special measures endorsed by the Ministry of the Interior to manage the large anticipated crowds for the solar eclipse. Searches for accommodations along the totality path surged as the event approached, with Valencia, Spain, witnessing a 245% spike in searches compared to the previous year, according to Expedia Group.
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