Spain wildfires: Over 115,000 evacuated as fires rage

Wildfires are ravaging Spain, forcing the evacuation of over 115,000 people and burning more than 45,000 hectares across Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón. The fires continue to advance, with one blaze nearing Toledo and another in Castellón stretching 21 kilometers.

Madrid and Ávila have seen the largest number of evacuees, totaling around 100,000 residents. In Castellón, 15,000 people have been displaced. Smaller evacuations have also occurred in León and Cáceres.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the advanced command post in Navaluenga, Ávila, accompanied by the Minister of the Interior and regional officials. This visit underscores the severity of the situation as the government monitors the fires' evolution.

Satellite data from the European Copernicus program is providing detailed tracking of the fire's extent. The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) maps the burned areas daily, while Sentinel-2 satellites offer clear images of the fire's scar on the landscape. This technology aids in understanding the scale and impact of the blazes.

In Boadilla del Monte, the skies cleared of ash, allowing residents to return to terraces, a stark contrast to the previous day's anxiety. The fires have primarily affected rural areas on the outskirts of Madrid. Had the flames moved towards the capital, densely populated and affluent areas would have been at risk.