Netherlands to send military helicopters to help Spain battle raging wildfires
The Netherlands is sending two Chinook helicopters and 60 military personnel to Spain to help fight massive wildfires that have already burned more than 150,000 hectares of land this year—twice the country’s annual average.
The aircraft, equipped with large water bags capable of dropping 8,000 liters at a time, will depart on Monday for a base near the city of Léon in northwest Spain, according to NOS.
The helicopters will operate in the region for two weeks, until September 1. One Chinook will remain available in the Netherlands to respond to requests from safety regions.
Extreme drought, strong winds, and persistent heat have fueled dozens of blazes in several Spanish provinces. The situation is especially dire in the northwest, including Ourense and Léon, where authorities report entire villages cut off, thousands of residents forced to evacuate, and major highways shut down.
Spanish officials have described the firefighting campaign as one of the largest in the country’s history. Spain has deployed extensive firefighting equipment and military units to contain the flames and carry out evacuations.
Still, the fires reportedly remain so widespread and destructive that Madrid has appealed for international assistance. France and Italy have already sent aircraft to reinforce Spain’s efforts.
