Spain's wildfires evolve "positively" but situation remains complex, minister says

Spain is battling a complex and severe wildfire situation, with the minister for ecological transition, Sara Aagesen, describing the evolution of the blazes as "positive" in recent hours, while simultaneously stressing the overall situation remains "very complex."

“

positive evolution

The most concerning fires are in the central provinces of Ávila and Madrid. The Ávila fire, spanning a 160-kilometer perimeter, has already consumed at least 50,000 hectares, making it the worst on record for Spain, though it shows slight improvement. In Madrid, the fire's advance has slowed, but three fronts remain unstable, having destroyed a minimum of 25,000 hectares. An additional fire in the neighboring province of Toledo has damaged 2,000 hectares.

“

very complex

Nearly 90,000 people in the central region are evacuated or confined for safety. The government has declared a national emergency, centralizing command of control and extinction operations. In Castellón, in the east, 7,000 hectares have been lost with a 48-kilometer perimeter, displacing 16,000 residents and confining another 64,000 to their homes. Over 40 secondary roads are closed across these four provinces.

“

very complex night

Minister Aagesen highlighted the difficulty of the previous night's firefighting efforts, urging extreme caution as Spain faces a "very high" risk of new fires due to an impending heatwave. She praised the "excellent coordination" among national, regional, and local forces, as well as international aid from Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey. Factors contributing to the rapid spread include strong, shifting winds, heat, low humidity, abundant dry vegetation, and rugged terrain. The fires have destroyed not only natural heritage but also hundreds of homes, vehicles, businesses, and infrastructure.

“

much caution