The forest fires that swept through Spain in August constitute "one of the biggest environmental disasters" the country has suffered in recent years, according to the government, which approved measures on Tuesday to speed up the payment of compensation to those affected.
With 15 major fires still burning in the country, "it is clear that we are facing one of the biggest environmental disasters in recent years," Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting.
"The damage to infrastructure is "undoubtedly extensive," he added, noting that four people have died and more than 3.5 million hectares have been reduced to ashes."
The government has declared a state of natural disaster in the affected areas, in order to accelerate the distribution of funds, to continue with tax exemptions, and to take various other measures to support residents.
"To give you an idea of the scale of the tragedy, the state of natural disaster covers 16 of Spain's 17 regions," the minister noted, as the decision also concerns areas hit by floods at the beginning of the summer.
The government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has once again rejected criticism from the opposition, and in particular from the Popular Party (PP), which accuses it of delaying the delivery of aid to deal with the fires.
In Spain, forest fire management is the responsibility of the regions. The three regions most affected in recent weeks, Castile-Leon, Extremadura and Galicia, are governed by the PP.
(BalkanWeb)
