The largest wildfire of 2021 is still active in central Spain
August 18, 2021, 3:07 pm

The largest wildfire of 2021 is still active in central Spain

Wildfires

According to the Xinhua news agency, a government delegate has confirmed on Monday that the largest wildfire of 2021 in Spain was still active on Monday, after burning around 10,000 hectares of brush, woodland and pasture.

The Chinese news agency said, the fire began between the small towns of Navalacruz and Cepeda in the province of Avila on Saturday morning, after a vehicle on a minor road caught fire. The flames then spread to the surrounding countryside.

It added, strong winds and temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius helped the fire spread a further 40 km, leading to the evacuation of around 1,000 people from the municipalities of Solosancho, Sobedillo, Riofrio, Sotalbo and Villaviciosa.

In the Current time, the important N-502 road, which links the cities of Avila (central Spain) and Cordoba (southern Spain) has been closed due to the fire, along with several local roads.

The flames are currently being fought by around 500 firemen, including 150 members of the Military Emergency Unit of the Spanish armed forces. Five aircraft and two helicopters have been deployed.

Ash particles fell in some outlying towns in the neighboring Comunidad de Madrid, while smoke was visible over 120 km away.

It should be noted, the fire began on the same day that a temperature of 47.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in the town of Montoro, in Andalusia (southern Spain).

This is the highest temperature ever recorded in Spain, and comes after several days of temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius in much of central and southern Spain.

Source: xinhua

Britain lifts sanctions from businessman close to Bashar al-Assad, causing outcry More than 6000 acres burned in Jerusalem due to wildfires

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”