Wildfire devastates Catalan forest

Every summer, forests in Catalonia —just like in other Southern European regions— are devastated by wildfires. Some 129 forest fires blazed in the Barcelona province during the first half of the summer, burning over 330 hectares, Catalan authorities announced last week. Last year, the number of fires at this point in time was 103, affecting an area half the size. Just last weekend, a forest fire burnt over 400 hectares in the countryside village of Artés, north of Barcelona. Some 50 people were evacuated. The fire is now under control, but has not been extinguished yet.