Spain’s Madrid wildfire has become the worst in the region’s history, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate or remain indoors as firefighters battle rapidly spreading flames.
MADRID: Spain’s Madrid wildfire has become the most severe on record for the region, prompting mass evacuations and a national emergency as firefighters struggle to contain the rapidly expanding blaze.
Authorities said around 40,000 people have either been evacuated or instructed to remain indoors as strong winds and extreme temperatures continue to fuel the fire west of the Spanish capital. The wildfire has destroyed dozens of homes, forced the closure of several roads and stretched emergency services to their limits.
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Emergency officials warned that the situation remains critical despite forecasts indicating that winds may ease overnight. While calmer conditions could improve firefighting efforts, authorities said they are unlikely to be enough to bring the massive blaze under control.
Carlos Novillo, head of emergency management for the Madrid regional government, described the fire as being at its most dangerous stage.
“The wildfire is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain,” he told reporters.
Officials said two separate wind-driven wildfires merged on Friday into one enormous blaze. The combined fire is also threatening to join with another wildfire burning in the neighbouring Castilla y León region, raising concerns that the emergency could escalate further.
Spanish authorities expanded evacuation orders on Friday, instructing another 7,000 residents in two villages west of Madrid to leave their homes as the flames advanced. Emergency alerts were sent directly to mobile phones, urging residents to evacuate immediately or follow official safety instructions.
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The latest evacuations add to the approximately 19,000 people across the Madrid region who had already been told either to leave their communities or remain indoors with doors and windows sealed to protect themselves from smoke.
Heavy traffic was reported on narrow rural roads near Zarzalejo, where families packed vehicles with essential belongings while leaving the area. Emergency services continued to assist residents as the wildfire spread across multiple fronts.
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Late on Thursday, Spain’s central government declared a national emergency covering the Madrid region and neighbouring Ávila province. The declaration enables additional resources to be deployed more rapidly and places the Military Emergency Unit (UME) in charge of coordinating the national response.
Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions closely as firefighters work to slow the Madrid wildfire, warning that high temperatures and dry conditions remain a significant challenge in bringing the blaze under control.
