Iberian wildfires

In mid-October 2017, dozens were left dead and injured as hundreds of wildfires swept central and north Portugal, as well as the north-western Galicia region of Spain.

At least 40 people were killed and 50 injured as the hot (>30°C), dry weather took its toll on the landscape. Conditions were worsened by Hurricane Ophelia as its strong winds fanned and spread the flames.

The Portuguese deaths were in the Coimbra, Guarda, Castelo Branca and Viseu areas. Portugal has been affected by a number of wildfires this year, including one in June that killed 64 people and destroyed about 29,000 hectares of land.

The smoke from the wildfires was also seen in the UK on the 16th, as Ophelia drew the smoke up from the Iberian Peninsula into the upper atmosphere, turning the sun red as the particles scattered the sunlight.