Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, arrived in Asturias on Friday to personally assess the situation in regions affected by large-scale wildfires. During his visit, he toured the operations center in Degaña, the main hub for firefighting efforts, including aviation and ground teams working in the areas of Somiedo and Cangas del Narcea.
Sánchez announced the launch of an interagency commission on climate change, which, according to him, is intended to coordinate the actions of various ministries during emergencies such as the current fires. However, it is worth noting that a similar commission was already established by the government in 2018, drawing criticism from the opposition.
Accompanying the prime minister were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen, Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska, as well as the head of the Asturias regional government Adrián Barbón and Civil Protection director Virginia Barcones. Sánchez specifically praised Barcones for her contribution to organizing rescue and firefighting operations under the challenging conditions of recent days.
Earlier, the director of Civil Protection faced sharp criticism from People’s Party representative Elías Bendodo, who accused her of inefficiency. In response, Sánchez publicly thanked her for her dedication and professionalism, stressing that her actions were crucial in tackling the aftermath of the natural disaster.
The Prime Minister also supported the initiative of the head of Asturias to hold a conference of regional presidents before the end of the year. In his view, this event should become a key part of the national pact to address climate threats. The conference is expected to discuss measures for prevention, response, and recovery from natural disasters.
The opposition, particularly the People’s Party, criticized Sánchez’s announcement to create a commission, recalling that such an agency has existed since 2011 and was renamed in 2018. Party representatives called the government’s actions ineffective and accused it of overly politicizing the issue of climate change.
In recent weeks, Spain has faced serious natural challenges: wildfires in Asturias and other regions of the country have led to evacuations and significant material losses. Authorities emphasize the need for coordinated action at all levels to minimize damage and prevent similar situations in the future.
Issues of climate change and emergency preparedness remain at the forefront of public attention. The government pledges to strengthen interagency cooperation and continue efforts to improve the response system for natural disasters.
