Spain’s Cabinet has designated 16 of the country’s 17 autonomous communities as disaster zones after an unprecedented wave of wildfires burned more than 350,000 hectares over the past three weeks. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the blazes, which he described as “one of the biggest environmental catastrophes in recent years,” have killed four people and left extensive damage to homes, farmland and public infrastructure. The declaration unlocks direct aid, tax relief and other emergency measures for residents and businesses, and comes as at least 15 large fires remain active across regions including Castilla y León, Extremadura and Galicia. Madrid has also mobilised military units and requested European support to bolster stretched regional fire-fighting crews. The crisis is intensifying political pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the People’s Party has criticised what he calls the government’s slow response and outlined a 50-point prevention plan, while ministers counter that all available federal resources were deployed. The disaster adds to challenges facing Sánchez, whose administration is already battling corruption allegations involving close associates.