Over 88,500 Affected in Central Spain by Two Major Uncontrolled Wildfires

Two large wildfires are raging uncontrollably in central Spain, forcing the evacuation or confinement of nearly 88,620 residents across numerous municipalities in the Madrid and Ávila provinces. The fires have devastated vast areas, with provisional data from the Ministry of the Interior indicating between 13,000 and 15,000 hectares burned in Ávila and nearly 10,000 in Madrid.

In the western sierra region of Madrid, 50,620 people are affected, comprising 29,488 evacuated and 21,132 confined to their homes. Ávila has seen 30,000 inhabitants displaced and another 8,000 ordered to remain indoors, bringing the total affected in the two neighboring provinces to 88,620. Regional authorities in Madrid estimate the burned land there at 12,000 hectares.

Numerous roads have been closed due to the blazes, which are being fanned by strong, shifting winds and spreading through rugged, heavily wooded terrain. The Spanish government has taken unified command of this national emergency, deploying 1,201 military personnel with 400 ground vehicles, over 1,300 security force members with 60 vehicles, 110 Civil Protection personnel, and more than 20 aircraft.

In addition to national resources, teams from the affected regions of Madrid and Castilla y León are involved. Aid has also come from other regional administrations, two aircraft from Greece, two from Italy, and two offered by Turkey. A Portuguese military detachment is also assisting in the firefighting efforts.