Spain prepares for rare solar eclipse against backdrop of heat and wildfires

Spain prepared for a rare total solar eclipse on Wednesday, as millions of people gathered in cloudless cities and towns to witness the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. The celestial event, which had not occurred in Spain for over a century, began early in the evening and brought crowds eager to catch the best views.

Participants set up lawn chairs and umbrellas, breaking into applause and cheers as the sky gradually darkened. It marked the country's first total solar eclipse in more than a century. "It's simply impossible to imagine," said Rosa Celiberti, a language teacher who watched from Medinaceli, a Roman-era hilltop town in northeast Spain, with tears in her eyes.

The eclipse passed over northern and central Spain and Portugal, as well as Greenland and Iceland. Totality, when the moon completely covered the sun's light, lasted less than 2.5 minutes, with the maximum duration off Iceland's west coast. By the time it reached Portugal and Spain, just before sunset, totality dwindled to a minute or so before ending over the Mediterranean.

The event attracted at least half a million additional visitors, according to Spanish authorities. Demand for hotel rooms along the path of totality surged, with rural areas preparing for an influx of visitors. Spanish officials rolled out a large public safety campaign, deploying over 33,500 law enforcement officers to observation areas and access points.

Despite scorching summer temperatures and wildfires raging across Spain, the eclipse drew attention to the country's natural beauty and prompted efforts to promote safe viewing practices. Special eclipse glasses, which filter out harmful solar radiation, became essential for safe viewing, with many pharmacies running out of stock ahead of the event.