Millions across Spain and Portugal watch the start of the countries’ first total solar eclipse in over a century

MEDINACELI, Spain (AP) — Millions of people crowded cloudless cities and towns in Spain on Wednesday in search of the best views of a total solar eclipse, when the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth will briefly plunge parts of the planet into darkness.The crowds brought lawn chairs, umbrellas and hats as they eagerly awaited the celestial spectacle, which began early in the evening. It was the country's first total solar eclipse in more than a century.Across a wide band of northern and central Spain, millions of people expected to have some of mainland Europe's best views of the eclipse. A sliver of Greenland and Iceland, too, may witness it — weather permitting.Totality — when the moon completely covers the sun’s light — was expected to last less than 2 1/2 minutes, reaching its maximum duration off Iceland’s west coast.

By the time it gets to a small patch of Portugal and then to Spain, just before sunset, totality will have dwindled to a minute or so. The eclipse will then end over the Mediterranean.Against the backdrop of scorching summer temperatures and wildfires, Spanish officials rolled out a large public safety campaign.The eclipse could draw at least an additional half-million visitors, authorities say. Demand for hotel rooms along the path of totality, including in the northern cities of A Coruña, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela, has soared.In Medinaceli, a Roman-era hilltop town in northeast Spain, sky watchers secured grassy viewing points hours early and crowded its restaurants and bars.“It's the first time in my lifetime that I’ll get to see a total eclipse in Spain,” said 24-year-old physics student Óscar Pérez, who traveled from Germany to the central Spanish town to witness the event.

“I’m not sure where the next one is, so it’ll be great to see it.”Rural areas prepare for an influx of visitorsSpain’s Interior Ministry said 350 official viewing sites have been set up across the sparsely populated interior, often referred to as “Empty Spain.” Authorities have limited or restricted access to another 123 sites because of environmental conditions or obstacles that could hinder an evacuation in the event of a wildfire.Only weeks ago, the most destructive wildfire in Spanish history devoured 500 square kilometers (193 square miles) and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Ávila, in central Spain. MEDINACELI, Spain (AP) — Millions across Spain and Portugal watch the start of the countries’ first total solar eclipse in over a century.