In western Spain, a forest fire has reached the Monfragüe National Park and is endangering the unique protected area.

Rare birds of prey nest in the large cork oak forests, as well as imperial eagles and a large colony of black vultures on a rock above the Tajo River.

Hans Christian Roessler

Political correspondent for the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb based in Madrid.

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According to the "Friends of the Monfragüe National Park", the first nests were victims of the flames, which could also reach the famous rock if the rescue workers do not step up their efforts.

“The national park is in danger of disappearing completely”

So far, only three helicopters have been fighting the fire in the area.

"Either a miracle happens, or the national park threatens to disappear completely," the newspaper "El Mundo" quoted the chairman of the circle of friends, Francisco Castañares, as saying on Friday.

Because of the great heat and possible dry thunderstorms, the regional government of Extremadura fears an "unfavorable development".

In the region, which extends to the Portuguese border, several large fires have already destroyed around 6,000 hectares.

With a few exceptions, the highest alert level applies throughout Spain because of the risk of fire.

According to the Spanish weather service Aemet, the extreme temperatures that have been measured in many parts of the country since last weekend will subside somewhat at the beginning of the week.

But that doesn't have to mean the end of the heat wave, which could last until next weekend.

Up to 44 degrees were expected in the provinces of Badajoz and Ourense on Friday.

At 40.7 degrees, it was the hottest July day in Madrid's Retiro Park since records began.

In neighboring Portugal, the weather station in Pinhão registered 47 degrees on Thursday, the highest temperature in July.

According to the broadcaster RTP, more than 30,000 hectares of vegetation have already burned this year, especially in the past week.

That is more than the entire area that was damaged last year.

According to civil defense information, about a dozen major fires were active on Friday.

A thousand emergency services fought the worst in Pombal in the middle of the country and in Baião and in Ponte da Barca in the north.