Firefighters battle fast-spreading wildfire north of Madrid, Spain
Spain is grappling with multiple wildfires, including a deadly blaze in Almeria and an ongoing fire in Zaragoza, amid severe drought conditions.
L'essentiel
- Firefighters are battling a fast-spreading wildfire north of Madrid in Guadalajara province, which has burned over 13,000 hectares.
- This comes as Spain reels from a deadly fire in Almeria and another ongoing blaze in Zaragoza, exacerbated by drought and low humidity.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
Spain is experiencing a severe drought and low humidity, contributing to a high alert for summer wildfires, following a deadly fire in Almeria province earlier this month that killed 13 people.
Firefighters battled to contain a fast-spreading wildfire north of Spain's capital, Madrid, on Sunday.
The country is still reeling from one of the deadliest wildfires in modern times that killed 13 people and destroyed 7,000 hectares in southern Almeria province earlier this month.
The latest fire started on Thursday in central Spain's Guadalajara province, which includes the Sierra Norte Natural Park.
The area is described as a forest-covered, mountainous region that is home to endangered species, including eagles and wolves.
El Pais newspaper reported that the fire had burned through more than 13,000 hectares by Sunday.
Public broadcaster RTVE reported that the flames had advanced a further 14 kilometers (9 miles) overnight.
More than 500 firefighters and emergency personnel have been deployed to contain the blaze.
Ground crews are also being assisted by 25 firefighting aircraft, officials said.
The head of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, Emiliano Garcia-Page, paid tribute to emergency workers in a post on X, saying they had "managed to save many lives."
Several hundred residents were ordered to evacuate the area.
No casualties have been reported so far.
A man, accused of starting the fire, was arrested on Thursday, police said, citing a tipoff from neighbors.
Spain remains on high alert for summer wildfires as a severe drought and low humidity affect much of the country at the height of the tourism season.
A major wildfire earlier this month in Almeria province, in the southern Andalucia region, left 13 people dead, including several foreign nationals.
The country remains in shock after revelations that several of the victims were found in burnt-out vehicles, having failed to flee the flames.
Another wildfire in the northeastern Zaragoza province has been burning since Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than a thousand residents.
The regional government warned on Friday evening that the blaze is "far from under control."
However, the head of the Aragon regional government, Jorge Azcon, said Saturday was the "first day we can breathe a sigh of relief," as the fire had been mostly contained.
Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have destroyed more than 80,000 hectares across Spain.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), that's nearly double the area burned during the same period last year.
Scientists say human-caused climate change is making heatwaves longer, hotter and more frequent — drying out landscapes and fueling more destructive wildfires.
Questions ouvertes
- What is the full extent of damage in Sierra Norte Natural Park?
- What are the specific identities of the foreign nationals killed in Almeria?
- What is the motive of the arrested man accused of arson?
