Northern Spain hit by more than 120 wildfires

Firefighters worked all night to try and extinguish 97 fires in Asturias where temperatures have been unusually high, while emergency services were trying to extinguish some 21 outbreaks in Cantabria, regional emergency services said.

"I am following the evolution of the active fires in Asturias," said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

"Unfortunately the wind is hindering the performance of the helicopters and, also, it has stoked the fires. My support and thanks to all the emergency services that are working in the area."

Fire services had deployed an additional 300 personnel to the usually verdant and mountainous area of Asturias, the region's fire service said, with another 30 being tasked with trying to coordinate efforts to extinguish the flames. 

Asturias said it had reinforced its regular service with 50 firefighters and had deployed six fire trucks and two water supply vehicles.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said it was going to transfer two water-carrying planes to Asturias and increase the number of water-bombing helicopters to five.

The risk of forest fires in Asturias was classified as very high on Monday due to unseasonably high temperatures combined with low humidity, factors that have caused authorities to ban all outdoor fires.

Sánchez said he had telephoned Javier Fernandez, President of the regional government of Asturias to offer him the all the support of the state.

Officials in Cantabria said they had reasons to suspect that more than 60 fires had been started intentionally.

The fires were concentrated at Luena, which had three outbreaks, Ruesga and Tudanca, as well as Arredondo, Castañeda, Cieza, Corvera de Toranzo, Lamasón, Liérganes, Penagos, Puente Viesgo, Rionansa, San Pedro del Romeral, Santa María de Cayón, Los Tojos, Valdáliga and Vega de Pas, authorities said.

Firefighters were hard at work to try and stop the flames reaching inhabited areas in Aes, in Bárcena Mayor.

A large wildfire has put at risk Ermita del Carmen in Los Llanos de Penagos, the 17th-century hermitage with a historically significant chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, officials said.

The regional government of Cantabria has called for citizens to help by avoiding activities that might heighten the risk of fires and to help identify the culprits involved in setting fires.

Fires that have been deliberately lit usually provide several clues, especially when several strong outbreaks have been found in a relatively small area or when evidence of fire-lighting substances has been found.

The Iberian Peninsula has in recent years been increasingly at risk of wildfires during the long, dry summer season, but it is unusual for such fierce outbreaks to emerge so early in the year.