Wildfires in Spain: First evacuees may be able to return
Emergency crews fighting the wildfires near the Spanish capital Madrid are making small advances. The first evacuees could return to their homes during the course of the day.
Initial progress is becoming apparent in the battle against the devastating wildfires near Madrid: A government representative from the Madrid region announced that the first evacuees could return as early as today. However, the authorities emphasized that safety conditions would need to be met.
According to the announcement, there are plans to reopen a campsite in El Escorial, west of Madrid, from which 4,500 people had been evacuated. In addition, residents of a care home in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, also located west of Madrid, are expected to be able to return.
Progress in fighting the fire
The firefighting efforts against the blazes in the south and west of Madrid are proceeding "slowly, but positively," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. Madrid's regional rescue services described the night into Monday on the online platform X as "intense," but said progress had been made in combating the fire.
Grande-Marlaska said emergency crews had been able to prevent the fire from spreading further, but that winds with gusts from frequently changing directions were hampering their work. Further gusts of up to 30 kilometres per hour are expected during the course of the day, which would complicate firefighting efforts. According to the regional government, the fire is still not under control.
Sánchez expected in Castellón
Another fire is currently raging near the city of Valencia in the east of the country. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit the province of Castellón there today. This fire, which broke out on Saturday, is also not under control, though according to current reports it is not spreading further.
The flames have already devastated an area of 4,300 hectares in the region. Due to the unprecedented fires in the vicinity of the capital and near the city of Valencia in the east of the country, a total of 75,000 people have had to be brought to safety.
With information from Hans-Günter Kellner, ARD Madrid.
