The Ministry of the Interior takes command in response to the virulence of the wildfires in the southwest of the Community of Madrid and in Ávila. More than 40 municipalities are experiencing telecommunications outages and five roads remain closed.
The number of evacuees due to the wildfires ravaging central Spain has reached 11,500 people, according to the latest official report. Of these, 10,000 are from the Community of Madrid, where the fire is spreading uncontrollably in the southwest of the region, and 1,500 from the province of Ávila.
In light of the seriousness of the situation, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has declared a national interest emergency (operational situation 3), which means that the central Government takes charge of directing and coordinating all state, regional, and local resources. This measure has been adopted due to the simultaneity of the fire outbreaks, the direct threat to populated areas, and the adverse weather conditions expected for this Friday, with strong gusts of wind that could worsen the evolution of the fires.
In the Community of Madrid, the most concerning fire is located in the blaze declared in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, which was caused by a vehicle that caught fire on the M-501 road. The flames have forced residents to evacuate towards the urban area of Pelayos de la Presa and to confine urbanisations such as San Ramón and Jaracruz. The fire in Villa del Prado has led to the complete evacuation of the town of Aldea del Fresno, with 3,500 inhabitants, while the rest of the population in Villa del Prado remains confined in their homes due to the dense smoke.
Mobility in the area has been severely affected. The M-501 remains closed between Navas del Rey and San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and the M-507 between Villa del Prado and the N-403. In total, five regional roads are impassable. Additionally, a double cut in the telecommunications network has left 40 towns in the region without service, complicating the coordination of emergency teams and the contact of affected residents with their families.
In Ávila, the Burgohondo-Navaluenga fire is advancing at an unusual speed: three kilometres in just 40 minutes. Authorities have issued alert messages for residents of El Tiemblo, Burgohondo, and Navaluenga (about 1,500 people) to confine themselves in their homes. Preventive evacuations have already taken place at the El Burguillo campsite and several rural houses in the Iruelas Valley Natural Reserve.
One of the most critical moments was the evacuation of the San Antonio nursing home in El Tiemblo, whose residents were transferred to Cebreros overnight. In Madrid, users of the López Rumayor residence have been accommodated in a municipal sports centre, while the most vulnerable have been referred to public centres of the Madrid Agency for Social Care.
The firefighting operation is working against the clock to contain the flames before the wind intensifies. Weather forecasts indicate a deterioration of conditions throughout the day, with gusts that could exceed 50 km/h. Residents in affected areas should remain alert to the authorities' instructions and, in case of confinement, keep doors and windows closed to avoid inhaling smoke.
Residents are advised to avoid travel on closed roads and to consult official channels for updates on the situation. Reception points set up by local councils are prepared to assist evacuees.
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