Winds complicate wildfire battle in Spain

A resident walks among the rubble of houses destroyed by a wildfire in the Spanish northwestern village of San Vicente de Leira, in Ourense province, on August 19, 2025. [AFP]

High winds on Wednesday hampered efforts to contain wildfires in Spain that have already scorched a record stretch of land despite lower temperatures, authorities said.

Firefighters, backed by troops and water-dropping aircraft, were battling 21 blazes in the west of the country classified as "operational level two", meaning they pose a direct threat to nearby communities, said Virginia Barcones, director general of emergency services.