Millions of people in Iceland and Spain set for 'event of the century' eclipse
Millions of people gathered in Iceland and northern Spain to witness Europe’s first total solar eclipse in 27 years on Wednesday (August 12, 2026), with
Millions of people gathered in Iceland and northern Spain to witness Europe’s first total solar eclipse in 27 years on Wednesday (August 12, 2026), with Spanish officials warning people to avoid areas where a heatwave has raised the risk of wildfires. Authorities were expecting up to 6 million visitors in mostly rural areas within the eclipse’s path across the north of Spain and the Balearic Islands, said Juan Cruz, Spain’s Secretary of State for Science. “I hope that tonight will see the emergence of a wonderful generation of astrophysicists,” he said. “It’s such a special moment.” The eclipse will be quickly followed by the sunset in Spain, making the event particularly alluring. Police, planes and helicopters are on standby The uncanny sensation when day briefly turns into twilight, and some animals fall quiet as the moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, was often treated as an omen in the past, a cosmic struggle or a sign of divine power. Now, Spain sees it as a chance to showcase seldom-visited regions and draw tourists away from its overcrowded beach resorts, while also rolling out a massive police operation and public safety campaign to prevent them causing wildfires. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters 25,000 police officers had been assigned to guarantee security around the eclipse observation while nearly 100 planes and helicopters were also being deployed.
He called on citizens to follow the eclipse from the hundreds of observation points set up by authorities and abide by the restrictions set up around some parks. “Let’s not forget that the wildfire risk is very high, it’s extreme due to high temperatures,” he said. Lola Guerreiro spent the night in the mountains near Arco de las Salinas in eastern Spain, home to Galactica — Europe’s largest educational astronomy centre — as well as the Javalambre observatory, after making the long drive from Extremadura to view the eclipse. “Watching a total solar eclipse has been a dream of mine for many, many years, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to experience it, even though it meant a seven-hour journey,” she said. Sergio, a 60-year-old Italian, had made the trek in a camping van with his family to Arija in northern Spain. “I do feel a little emotional. Yes, because I know I won’t have another chance in my life to see an eclipse, a phenomenon like this,” he said. The Iberian Peninsula last saw a total solar eclipse in 1912. It is set to experience another one on August 2, 2027, and an annular eclipse in January 2028, completing the so-called “Iberian Eclipse Trio.” Eclipse fever in the land of sagas In Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, glasses to allow people to look at the phenomenon without damaging their eyes have been sold out for days as the Nordic country of roughly 400,000 people expects to welcome up to 80,000 visitors.
The BriefWire