Madrid wildfire uncontrollable, officials say

A wildfire raging near Madrid has reached its peak and is currently impossible for firefighters to control, Carlos Novillo, head of the emergency services department for the local government, stated. The fire is spreading towards the towns of Robledo de Chavela and Fresnedillas de la Oliva, located about 20 kilometers west of the capital's suburbs.

Authorities have ordered evacuations for residents in these two towns. Novillo explained that it is impossible to fight the fire directly in its current area, leading to defensive measures being implemented. Madrid officials reported that approximately 25,000 people have been evacuated, and over 20,000 are currently blocked due to the fire's progression.

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Madrid region, described the fires near the Spanish capital as the worst in its history. She attributed the difficulty in combating the blaze to exceptionally high temperatures, persistent winds, and dry weather conditions. "The situation is completely unusual and catastrophic," Ayuso said, emphasizing that saving human lives is the top priority.

Wildfires are also affecting southwestern France, where over 65,000 people have been evacuated across both countries. In the last two days, more than 44,000 people were forced to flee their homes in southwestern France. The fires have destroyed over 12,500 hectares of forest, along with 53 houses and a campsite.