BRUSSELS: Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Friday declared a state of emergency in the Madrid Region and the Avila region due to the worsening situation caused by forest fires, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing local media.
According to broadcaster RTVE, the declaration covers forest fires in the municipalities of Villa del Prado and San Martin de Valdeiglesias in Madrid, as well as Burgohondo in Avila, located in the region of Castilla y Leon.
The Home Ministry announced that the decision was made after several fires spread simultaneously, bad weather and the need to mobilize large-scale resources from various government agencies.
Authorities are also taking into account the need to implement early evacuations, threats to residential areas and the possibility of fires spreading across regional borders.
The Military Emergency Unit (UME) is given the responsibility of leading firefighting operations and emergency response.
According to the Madrid regional government, the situation remains critical with three large fires still active and not yet under control.
More than 10,000 residents were evacuated from the municipalities of Villa del Prado, San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa and Aldea del Fresno.
Regional authorities have warned that the fire has the potential to continue to spread and is difficult to extinguish based on the current situation.
— BERNAMA-ANADOLU
