Wildfire North of Madrid Expands, Forcing Hundreds to Evacuate Amid Heatwave Warnings

A wildfire north of Madrid continues to rage, having consumed more than 13,000 hectares of land and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The blaze, which ignited Thursday in the province of Guadalajara, is located about 100 kilometers north of the Spanish capital.

Local authorities described the fire as "difficult" to manage. Hundreds of firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft, are battling the flames in the forested and mountainous region, which is part of the Sierra Norte national park. This area is home to endangered species like eagles, wolves, and butterflies.

The fire follows another significant blaze near Zaragoza in the northeast, which destroyed 15,000 hectares. While that fire is reportedly developing favorably, a more deadly wildfire earlier in July in Almeria claimed 13 lives and burned 7,000 hectares.

Spain is facing a challenging summer, with the national meteorological agency predicting a third heatwave to begin Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to soar, with some areas potentially exceeding 45 degrees Celsius by Thursday. These extreme heat conditions, coupled with drought, create a fertile environment for destructive wildfires.

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