ISTANBUL: Spanish authorities said on Sunday that firefighters had successfully contained nearly all wildfire fronts burning across the Community of Madrid and the province of Ávila, although thousands of residents remain affected as emergency operations continue.
According to local authorities, significant overnight progress enabled emergency crews to bring the major fire fronts under control. However, several active hotspots persist and remain the primary focus of firefighting efforts.
More than 121,000 people have either been evacuated or instructed to stay indoors after the fires scorched over 45,000 hectares of land across Madrid and Ávila, making it one of Spain’s most severe wildfire emergencies this year.
The president of the Castile and León regional government, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, said preliminary findings suggest the Ávila wildfire was caused by human negligence. He pledged that regional authorities would participate in legal proceedings against those responsible.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the Spanish Cabinet will approve a royal decree on Tuesday declaring the wildfire-hit regions as areas severely affected by a civil protection emergency, enabling additional financial assistance and recovery measures.
During a visit to Ávila, Sánchez warned that the crisis was not yet over, urging residents to remain vigilant as firefighters continue working to eliminate remaining hotspots.
Elsewhere, another major wildfire continues to burn uncontrolled in Sierra de Espadán Natural Park in Castellón, forcing the evacuation of approximately 16,000 people.
The disaster has also claimed lives. A man died on Saturday after becoming trapped in a wildfire in the Salt de l’Aigua ravine near the Valencian town of Manises.
According to Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, wildfires have burned 152,678 hectares across the country so far in 2026, with 32 major wildfires recorded. During the same period last year, 24,133 hectares were affected and only seven large wildfires were reported, highlighting the dramatic increase in wildfire activity this year.
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