2025 summer has seen a devastating spate of wildfires across many areas of Europe. Now we have to deal with the damage they caused. Nearly 1% of Spain's total surface area was burned in just a few weeks. Watch: Spain counts the cost of 'nightmare' wildfire summer BBC News report, transcript below
TRANSCRIPT: This summer has seen a devastating spate 0:04 of wildfires across many areas of 0:06 Europe. And while the worst fires have 0:08 been extinguished, the affected areas 0:10 now have to deal with the damage caused. 0:13 The country that suffered the most this 0:15 summer in terms of land burned is Spain. 0:18 Guyia Hedgeko reports from there on the 0:20 economic impact of the wildfires. 0:24 The worst summer of wildfires in three 0:27 decades. 0:29 Nearly 1% of Spain's total surface area 0:32 was burned in just a few weeks. 0:35 Here in the rural province of Tamora, 0:38 the impact has been devastating. 0:42 Now those affected are gauging the 0:45 damage. Jos Antonio Brun, a local 0:48 beekeeper, was relatively lucky. The 0:50 fire stopped just meters short of his 0:53 1500 beehives. But the burned fields 0:56 nearby mean his bees now lack much of 0:59 the flora they need to survive. And 1:02 because his beehives were not destroyed, 1:04 he's not able to claim insurance. 1:13 I estimate that my honey production for 1:15 this year has been harved and I think 1:17 it's going to take another 2 years for 1:19 the flora that my bees need to grow back 1:21 again. 1:23 Tourism, which represents 13% of 1:26 national GDP, has been severely affected 1:29 by the wildfires. 1:31 This lake, which is a major attraction 1:34 for visitors, was closed down as the 1:36 fires approached in the middle of last 1:38 month. 1:42 In August, this area was at full 1:44 capacity in terms of tourism and people 1:47 who have second homes here. And then on 1:49 August 18th, it dropped down to 10%. 1:53 Since we arrived here at this lake, a 1:55 new fire has started behind us. Now, 1:58 nearly all the major fires here in Spain 2:00 this summer have been in the vast, 2:02 sparsely populated rural areas of the 2:04 country, like here in the northwest. 2:07 People who live in these areas have long 2:09 complained of an abandonment on the part 2:12 of the central and local authorities 2:15 which they say has had huge economic 2:18 repercussions. 2:20 Although the summer has ended, the fires 2:23 continue, albeit smaller ones like here 2:26 in the farming town of Castro. 2:31 It's hard enough as it is to survive 2:33 because of the price of animal feed and 2:35 fuel. Every day it's more difficult for 2:38 farmers to get by. And then on top of 2:41 that, this happens. One farmer we spoke 2:44 to has had to put down 11 cows which 2:47 were badly burned recently. A farmers 2:50 association has estimated that losses in 2:52 the sector across the country this 2:54 summer amount to at least €600 million 2:58 because of animals killed and land and 3:00 property destroyed. 3:02 This fire was brought under control, but 3:05 now Spain is counting the enormous cost 3:08 of a disastrous summer. Guy Hedgeko, BBC 3:11 News, northwestern Spain. *** BBC News
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