Spain facing year of heatwaves and wildfires as it enters long-term drought

A church and remains of an ancient village which are usually covered by water are seen inside the reservoir of Sau, in Vilanova de Sau, Catalonia, in November 2022 (Emilio Morenatti/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 on Friday that statistics show Spain entered a long-duration drought at the end of 2022 and the first three months of 2023 show no major signs of change.