Trains halted and roads severed due to fiery obstacles in Galicia
As August 2022 unfolds, wildfires in the region of Galicia, Spain, have resulted in significant disruptions to transportation, with multiple road closures and rail suspensions.
The most notable impact is the suspension of the train service between Madrid and Galicia, including the closure of a section of the A-52 highway (autovía) and several kilometers of the AG-53 road due to nearby fires [2][3]. In total, multiple roads have been closed as a precautionary measure, including eight national roads in the affected areas, which impact Galicia and neighboring regions [1][4].
Dozens of villages have been evacuated, and roads in these areas are closed to facilitate firefighting and ensure safety [2]. The AG-53 motorway that connects Santiago de Compostela with Ourense was closed to traffic in both directions at kilometer 59 due to the fires. The N-525 road, passing through Dozón (Pontevedra), was also closed due to the fires.
Renfe, the Spanish rail operator, prepared an alternative plan by road between the station of A Gúdina and Ourense for the trains that were in circulation on this route. The AVE train between Madrid Chamartín (11:57) and Vigo Urzaiz (15:26) had to retreat to the station of A Gúdina due to the fire in Taboadela.
In a preventive measure, around fifty elderly people were evacuated from a nursing home in San Martiño de A Mezquita (Ourense) due to a fire in Esculqueira. The fires have also affected trains traveling between Santiago de Compostela and Ourense, and the suspension of rail traffic has included high-speed trains between Galicia and Madrid.
The wave of fires in August is primarily putting the province of Ourense at risk. The firefighters requested Adif to cut high tension in that stretch due to the danger posed by several fires in the area. The intention was to return the 56 residents to the nursing home at the close of the edition, but this depended on the evolution of the fire.
This article is only available for subscribers. Renfe was forced to charter a dozen buses for passengers to continue their journey by road. Subscription is required to access this functionality.
Read also:
- International Climate Talks in Brazil Face Intensified Pressure as United States Opt Out of COP30 Conference
- Gathering at the 2025 ECOS Fall Meeting: Embracing Ecological Innovation in New Mexico's Magical Terrain
- Illicit waste disposal incidents recorded in excess of 50 occurrences in the region of Chita, as captured by surveillance photography.
- Contested Airspace Possessions: Threatening Existing Proprietorial Rights
