Statement by the President of the Government of Spain following a visit to the site of the fire in Los Gallardos (Almería)

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Thank you very much, Mr President. And, just as he did, I too would like to begin by thanking the media for all the information you have conveyed to the residents of the affected areas. I believe that on many occasions, and in situations like these involving emergencies and civil protection, the role of the media is crucial, especially in combating misinformation. Unfortunately, misinformation breeds insecurity and creates very difficult situations for those directly experiencing civil emergencies, such as the ones we have sadly witnessed here in the province of Almería.

On behalf of the Government of Spain - and echoing the sentiments already expressed by the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister for the Presidency and the Minister for Defence yesterday - I would like to express my condolences and deep sorrow over the loss of life of our fellow citizens who ultimately represent the most harrowing, most tragic aspect of fires like the ones we are currently facing and, unfortunately, are having to endure. And in this regard, I naturally wish a speedy recovery to all those who have been injured and are currently being treated by the public health system in Andalusia, and I extend my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this tragedy, this fire.

Secondly - and I have said this before and reiterate it now - when we speak of the State, we are speaking of everyone: the mayors and municipalities present here; the Provincial Council - in this case, Almería's; the Regional Government of Andalusia; and, of course, the General State Administration - the Government of Spain. And here we have representatives from the Civil Protection System, led by Virginia, the Secretary-General; and, of course, also by Pedro, the delegate of the Government of Spain in Andalusia.

I believe we have once again demonstrated what citizens expect and demand in situations such as this, namely cooperation, unity and, in this case, a coordinated response in the fight against the fire.

Furthermore, I believe that the public servants who make up the entire civil protection system, from the Civil Guard to those providing psychological support to the people affected by the fire, deserve not only our recognition but also our applause. Often, when we speak of public servants, we are referring to individuals who risk their own lives to protect and safeguard the lives of their fellow citizens. And so, I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the frontline work of all those who, whether as public servants or as members of NGOs, are working to respond to these civil protection emergencies.

And, of course, I must highlight the unity shown by everyone involved - from mayors and provincial councils to the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Government of Spain - because this is what citizens ask for, and it is also the most effective way to combat these civil protection crises.

We, the Government of Spain - as our representatives have explained over the last few days - have made available all the state resources that have been requested of us. This applies to the fire-extinguishing phase, the investigation into the causes of the fire, and - as I told the mayors of the affected areas earlier - the reconstruction process. Our goal is to provide public resources to help alleviate the situation as much as possible in material terms - though never emotionally, given the loss of human life and the destruction of homes - so that communities can at least return to a sense of normalcy.

And finally, I would like to reflect on what the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia said. As you know, last year - as the Secretary-General for Civil Protection reminded me earlier - practically a third of the area burnt in Europe last year was here in Spain, and this is largely due not only to the traditional wildfires that can occur, but also to the worsening situation resulting from the climate emergency affecting the Iberian Peninsula and, in particular, Spain.

That is why it is important to recall the proposal the Government of Spain has put forward to all levels of government: to forge a major agreement to tackle the climate emergency. Earlier, when talking to the mayors, the focus was on prevention. Indeed, we must not merely react when these fires break out; we must also focus on prevention. For instance, prevention involves securing and establishing perimeters around municipal areas. It also involves - as the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia rightly noted - promoting training and courses, specifically for young people, though not exclusively in schools, on how to respond to fires and civil protection emergencies, which are unfortunately becoming increasingly common.

The General State Administration is driving forward many of the measures linked to that State Pact - that national agreement to address the climate emergency. I believe that - beyond the institutions, and naturally including organised civil society and each of us as individuals - we must fully grasp that the climate is changing and that the effects of the climate emergency are worsening; indeed, the situation is exceeding the dire warnings scientists have been issuing for some time. Therefore, we must recognise that everyone has a role to play in forging this major national agreement, one that guarantees greater safety for those living in areas currently suffering the consequences of these civil protection emergencies.

I've said it many times: the climate emergency kills. We're seeing this all over Europe. We are seeing this in Spain too, unfortunately, and as a result, all levels of government and society as a whole must rise to the challenge that lies ahead.

I believe that the authorities - Mr. President, Mr. Mayor, the President of the Provincial Council, the Government Delegate, and the Secretary for Civil Protection - are indeed setting that example.

And indeed, as the president has said, unfortunately we are facing a difficult and challenging summer, which will require us all to remain vigilant and alert so that we can respond as swiftly as possible to any eventuality that may arise. The Government of Spain is doing just that. We presented this year's Firefighting Plan before the start of summer, last May, at the Torrejón military base. There, we outlined the capabilities we have gradually built up over the years to ensure a swift and effective response to Civil Protection crises. And that capability serves as a guarantee, complementing our commitment to cooperate and respond in a unified manner, alongside other levels of government, to these Civil Protection crises.

I would also like to express my deepest condolences - particularly to the mayors, as I am sure you knew the residents who lost their lives. I was also told that many of them are foreign nationals, from the United Kingdom and also from Belgium, who were fully integrated into their local communities. Well-known people, people held in high regard by their neighbours. It is truly a tragedy. It is very sad.

I also want to share that we have received expressions of solidarity and commitments of support from many European governments; they, too, are suffering the consequences of this climate emergency in the form of wildfires and other incidents. And I believe that this European solidarity - including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism - will also be very much needed during these difficult and complex months that lie ahead.

That's all. And thank you, once again, to the media for keeping the public informed. Inform, I believe that is a vital verb we must all champion, especially at times when citizens want to know and understand the situation so they can respond effectively to these types of crises.

Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)

Original speech in Spanish

Non official translation