Lightning sparks chaos in Porto de Sanabria
José Antonio Bruña, a honey producer, stands on a hillside near Porto de Sanabria, where he keeps his beehives. He points to a spot on the opposite mountain where lightning struck weeks earlier, igniting a wildfire with disastrous effects. “This August has been a nightmare for me and for local farmers,” he says. “I’m 47, and I’ve never seen a fire that fierce.”
The fire consumed over 20,000 hectares of land and forced thousands of villagers to evacuate in north-western Spain, near the Portuguese border. It was one of many blazes that destroyed 0.8% of Spain’s territory this summer. The worst-hit regions included Castilla y León, Galicia, and Extremadura.
Honey production, a cornerstone of the rural economy in north-west Spain, suffered heavily. Bruña knows several beekeepers who lost up to 400 hives. Fortunately, his own 1,500 hives survived, but nearby flora burned, threatening future yields.
Long-term impact on honey and livestock
Bruña predicts a 50% drop in honey production this year, with similar or worse losses expected next year. Many flower species will take up to three years to regrow. Because his hives remain structurally intact, he cannot claim insurance. He considers relocating some hives to protect the bees and reduce future losses.
Livestock farmers also faced immense disruption. Fernando García, a cow farmer from Castromil, spent hours fighting fires with volunteers. He lost around 30 cattle this summer, including 11 severely burned animals. At times, he confined cows to avoid fire hazards. “The economic impact is huge, but the worst is that we can’t sleep at night,” he says. Insurance may cover some losses, but premiums will rise sharply next year.
The COAG national farmers’ association estimated damages at over €600 million. Burned fields, lost livestock, damaged beehives, and destroyed tracking equipment caused the highest costs. Farmers are now negotiating with regional governments for public recovery funds.
Tourism suffers alongside agriculture
Tourism, which generates 13% of Spain’s GDP, also faced setbacks. While most coastal areas avoided fires, southern Cádiz saw hotels and campsites evacuated. Rural tourism in the west and north-west, including hiking, wine, and food activities, also suffered. Sanabria Lake, the largest glacial lake in the Iberian Peninsula, closed after fires reached nearby areas, forcing many tourists to leave.
Miguel Ángel Martos, mayor of Galende, reports that tourist numbers fell from full capacity to just 10% by mid-August. Local business owner Óscar David García López lost €80,000 when the authorities closed his lakeside bars, while compensation offers covered only a fraction of the losses. The Hosteltur tourism association warned that wildfires damage both revenue and the reputation of affected destinations.
The divide between urban and rural Spain
The summer fires highlight Spain’s urban-rural divide. Decades of migration have left 90% of the population living on 30% of the land, while the rest, known as la España vacía, faces sparse infrastructure and limited services. Farmers already struggle with rising feed and fuel costs, and EU environmental and sanitary regulations often add pressure.
Miguel Ángel García Diéguez from Castromil summed up rural frustration: “It’s hard enough to survive with rising costs, and then this disaster strikes on top of everything else.”
