Cooler air and rising humidity may give Spain’s scorched regions a reprieve, but the scale of devastation underscores a hotter political and climatic reality.

Wildfires in Spain have led authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. About 20 wildfires, fuelled by a severe 16-day heatwave, have devastated more than 115,000 hectares (285,000 acres) in the regions of Galicia and Castile and Leon over the past week.

Wildfires in northern and western Spain have destroyed nearly as much land in 24 hours as in all of last year. Climate-induced conditions have exacerbated the fires, prompting significant international aid and a governmental push towards permanent climate emergency policies.

Up to 20 major wildfires are burning in total, the majority in Spain's northwestern region of Galicia, while there are several blazes in neighbouring Portugal.

Severe wildfires fueled by an unprecedented heatwave have devastated regions in Spain, affecting historical routes and causing fatalities. As authorities battle the blaze, significant areas are closed,

Raging wildfires in Spain have now encroached upon the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountain range, prompting authorities to close a section of the revered Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Spain's worst wave of wildfires on record spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Part of Spain’s Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route is off limits as wildfires envelop the region. Spain is facing one of the largest wave of wildfires on record. Hikers have been told to stay away. “This is a fire situation that we haven’t experienced for 20 years,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.

Spain's worst wave of wildfires on record spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains on Monday and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Spain's worst wave of wildfires in at least two decades spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountain range on Monday and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.