The Community of Madrid is the hardest hit area by the wildfires ravaging central Spain, with 50,000 people affected, of whom nearly 30,000 have been evacuated. The fire has scorched 45,000 hectares across the region.
The wildfires that have been battering the centre of the Peninsula for days have struck particularly hard in the Community of Madrid, where nearly 50,000 people have been affected by the advance of the flames. Of these, almost 30,000 have had to leave their homes and another 20,000 remain confined in their residences due to the proximity of the fire, according to the latest data provided by the regional authorities.
The situation is especially critical in the western sierra of the region, where various hotspots have merged into one large fire that also affects the province of Ávila, in the neighbouring Tiétar Valley. In the entire area, the flames have already scorched at least 45,000 hectares of forested land.
The central government has expanded the declaration of national emergency to the province of Toledo on Saturday, adding it to Madrid and Ávila, after the fires in the Toledo area reached level 3 of danger. This measure allows for enhanced coordination between administrations and ensures the use of all available resources.
Mass evacuations in Madrid municipalities
In the Community of Madrid, evacuations are affecting numerous towns in the southwest and the sierra. Among them are Robledo de Chavela, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Villa del Prado, Pelayos de la Presa, Cenicientos, Aldea del Fresno, Cadalso de los Vidrios, Las Rozas de Puerto Real, Navalagamella and Zarzalejo.
The rapid evolution of the flames even forced the evacuation of Cenicientos, where the unified command post of the operation had initially been set up. The coordination centre had to be moved to Navalcarnero due to worsening weather conditions, marked by constant changes in wind direction and the risk of dry storms.
The authorities have urged the population to always follow the instructions of the agents deployed on the ground, to remain calm, and to respect the flow of traffic on the roads to avoid blockages during evacuations.
Over 600 elderly evacuated from residences in Ávila
In the province of Ávila, the fires have forced the evacuation of more than 600 elderly people from twelve residences. Among the evacuated towns in Ávila are Piedralaves, La Adrada, Casillas, Sotillo de la Adrada, Santa María del Tiétar, Navahondilla and Casavieja. In total, around 30,000 people have been evacuated in this province and another 8,000 remain confined.
The authorities have explained that the fire's “crown-to-crown” spread is facilitating a much faster advance of the flames, complicating firefighting efforts. More than 400 residents from towns in Ávila are being accommodated along with their pets at the facilities of the National Police School in Ávila.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has acknowledged that the situation “remains complex” due to uncertainty about the direction and intensity of the winds and the risk of dry storms. However, he pointed out that the expected drop in temperatures for the weekend could open a “window of opportunity” to make progress in extinguishing the fires.
One fatality in Valencia and other active fronts
Outside the Community of Madrid, the day has resulted in one fatality in Manises (Valencia), where a person has died in the wildfire declared in the area of the Salt de l'Aigua ravine. The local council has declared two days of official mourning. Five other people have been injured due to smoke inhalation and burns and have been transferred to Manises Hospital.
In Pinos del Valle (Granada), the authorities have sent an Es-Alert notice to the population and have declared the confinement of residents in the urban nucleus. The fire has also forced the preventive evacuation of a camp with around a hundred people, 73 of whom are minors, and two people had to be rescued from a farmhouse.
In the Vall d'Uixò (Castellón), another wildfire is keeping the residents of Artana, the Vall d'Uixò and Vilavella confined. Some rustic homes near the flames have also been evacuated preventively. The fire started in several locations, leading investigators to suspect it may have been caused.
The authorities remind the population to take extreme precautions and to contact 112 in case of any emergency. The evolution of the fires can be consulted on the official channels of the Community of Madrid and the General Directorate of Civil Protection.
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