Four Active Wildfires Put Spain on Emergency Alert, Forcing 11,500 Evacuations

Spain is grappling with a severe wildfire crisis, with four major blazes actively burning across the country. The escalating situation has forced the government to declare national emergencies in the Community of Madrid and the neighboring province of Ávila, leading to the evacuation of over 11,500 people.

President Pedro Sánchez described the scenario as "dramatic" and has requested support from the European Union through its emergency response mechanism. The Spanish Unidad Militar de Emergencia (UME) has sought at least four fixed-wing aerial firefighting assets to bolster extinction efforts.

International aid is already en route. Greece has responded by offering two Canadair CL-415 aircraft, and preparatory meetings are underway to coordinate their deployment. France, also facing three significant wildfires, is receiving similar international assistance, including amphibious aircraft from Croatia and Portugal, and heavy helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Sánchez chaired a meeting of the State Coordination and Direction Committee for the State Emergency Plan to assess the fires' evolution and coordinate institutional responses. He assured that all available resources are being deployed to combat the blazes. The most critical areas are in Madrid, where fires in Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and Almorox have forced evacuations, though teams are working to contain the flames. Another fire in Burgohondo has led to the evacuation of 1,500 people from a rural tourist area, confining three towns.

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dramático