Spain Declares State of Emergency as Wildfires Rage Amid Heatwave

Spain has declared a state of emergency in its central regions of Madrid and Ávila as wildfires rage uncontrollably. The declaration, made late Thursday, transfers crisis management responsibility to the army's emergency unit, aiming to expedite resource allocation for firefighting efforts.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from the Madrid region in recent days. The largest active fire is currently in the Guadalajara province, north of Madrid, which has already consumed an estimated 32,000 hectares, according to The Guardian. Wildfires are also burning in Ávila's Burgohondo area.

These fires are occurring amidst a severe heatwave gripping southern Europe. Temperatures in several Spanish regions have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, reaching over 44 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday. Similar devastating wildfires are also affecting France, where over 20,000 people have been evacuated from the Bordeaux region, and Italy.