900 Hectares of ashes: what a forest burned almost to the ground looks like in Galicia
Carlos Folgoso Sueiro is a documentary photographer from Spain. He is interested in the origin of time, gravity, the creation and fate of the Universe, as well as people's deep emotions. In his projects, he addresses social, geopolitical, and environmental issues. Most of his projects are dedicated to Russia and his homeland, Galicia.
Finding himself at the epicenter of the fire, he took shots that show the destructive power of the flames and shared them with us.
Finding himself at the epicenter of the fire, he took shots that show the destructive power of the flames and shared them with us.
«Just imagine: standing in a blackened, charred forest, and the air is impossible to breathe.»
— When you look at what's happening, what do you feel first?
— First and foremost — sadness and devastation. Standing in a burned-out forest means finding yourself in a lifeless silence where you cannot breathe the air. For the people of Galicia, the forest is part of daily life: mushroom picking, hunting, hiking and cycling routes. All of this has disappeared, and it will take years to recover. Walking through a charred forest reminds me of biblical depictions of hell.
— First and foremost — sadness and devastation. Standing in a burned-out forest means finding yourself in a lifeless silence where you cannot breathe the air. For the people of Galicia, the forest is part of daily life: mushroom picking, hunting, hiking and cycling routes. All of this has disappeared, and it will take years to recover. Walking through a charred forest reminds me of biblical depictions of hell.
— Do you feel a sense of helplessness in the face of nature, or rather anger that this could have been prevented?
— In the first hours, there was only a feeling of complete helplessness: the fire was impossible to control. But soon, anger was added to that — because much of it could have been prevented. Our forests are planted with pine and eucalyptus — they grow quickly and generate income, but they ignite instantly. Most residents are convinced that forest management and prevention must be carried out year-round, and that policies in this area need to be reconsidered.
— What is the most painful aspect of this situation for you — the destroyed nature, the suffering of the people, or the feeling that the system was unprepared?
— Responsibility towards nature. Summer temperatures keep rising, the soil dries out, and even the slightest spark causes the fire to spread instantly. This is a direct consequence of climate change, in which every one of us has a part. So, along with anger at the system, I also feel a sense of personal guilt. We all need to find new ways to live in harmony with nature.
— In the first hours, there was only a feeling of complete helplessness: the fire was impossible to control. But soon, anger was added to that — because much of it could have been prevented. Our forests are planted with pine and eucalyptus — they grow quickly and generate income, but they ignite instantly. Most residents are convinced that forest management and prevention must be carried out year-round, and that policies in this area need to be reconsidered.
— What is the most painful aspect of this situation for you — the destroyed nature, the suffering of the people, or the feeling that the system was unprepared?
— Responsibility towards nature. Summer temperatures keep rising, the soil dries out, and even the slightest spark causes the fire to spread instantly. This is a direct consequence of climate change, in which every one of us has a part. So, along with anger at the system, I also feel a sense of personal guilt. We all need to find new ways to live in harmony with nature.
— Is humanitarian aid available to those affected?
— Yes, support is being provided to the victims — both state and social. People will be able to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, although help often comes slowly. In this, I see a positive aspect of our redistribution system: taxes really do help those who have fallen into trouble.
— Yes, support is being provided to the victims — both state and social. People will be able to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, although help often comes slowly. In this, I see a positive aspect of our redistribution system: taxes really do help those who have fallen into trouble.
— As a local, you know better than anyone what hurts the most for the residents of the affected area.
— The suffering of people who have lost their homes, farms, and animals is undoubtedly the hardest. But the damage to nature is also colossal: in my village of Vences, 900 out of 1,000 hectares of forest burned down. This means no hunting, no mushrooms, no familiar way of life for many years to come.
— What are you most afraid of?
— My main concern is that when things quiet down a bit, the problem will be forgotten. But in a few years, the situation will repeat itself. Fires in Galicia are an annual disaster, and only this time the scale turned out to be unprecedented.
— The suffering of people who have lost their homes, farms, and animals is undoubtedly the hardest. But the damage to nature is also colossal: in my village of Vences, 900 out of 1,000 hectares of forest burned down. This means no hunting, no mushrooms, no familiar way of life for many years to come.
— What are you most afraid of?
— My main concern is that when things quiet down a bit, the problem will be forgotten. But in a few years, the situation will repeat itself. Fires in Galicia are an annual disaster, and only this time the scale turned out to be unprecedented.
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