Wildfires Ravage Central and Northeastern Spain, Forcing Mass Evacuations
Madrid, The Gulf Observer: Fast-moving wildfires have swept across central and northeastern Spain, burning nearly 29,000 hectares of land and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents as emergency crews continue intensive efforts to contain the blazes.
The largest active wildfire in central Spain, which broke out on Thursday near La Mierla in Guadalajara province, has burned approximately 13,000 hectares (32,124 acres) and displaced around 800 residents from 21 municipalities. According to media reports, the fire advanced nearly 14 kilometres overnight and remains at Level 2 under the Castilla-La Mancha regional emergency plan.
Mercedes Gómez, Castilla-La Mancha’s Minister for Sustainable Development, said an additional 200 residents were evacuated as the wildfire continued to spread. Emergency alerts issued on Sunday instructed residents in the communities of Prádena de Atienza, Robledo, Aldeanueva, and Naharros to leave their homes as a precaution.
At first light on Sunday, firefighting aircraft resumed aerial operations, joining 204 emergency personnel deployed in 32 ground teams. Spain’s Military Emergency Unit has also been mobilized to establish firebreaks and defensive lines in an effort to slow the fire’s advance and protect nearby communities.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle another major wildfire near Ores in the northeastern province of Zaragoza. The blaze has scorched an estimated 16,000 hectares, making it Spain’s largest wildfire of the summer to date.
The Zaragoza wildfire has forced the evacuation of five towns in the Aragon region and one municipality in neighbouring Navarre. Despite its scale, Aragon Environment Minister Luis Biendicho said on Saturday that the fire had stopped advancing and that the overall situation was becoming “more positive,” reflecting progress made by firefighting teams.
Spain has experienced increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, driven by prolonged heatwaves, drought conditions, and strong winds that have heightened the risk of rapidly spreading fires. Authorities continue to monitor the affected areas closely while urging residents to follow evacuation orders and safety instructions as firefighting operations remain underway.
