Madrid (Spain), 24 July (LaPresse/AP) – The Spanish government has declared a national state of emergency after numerous wildfires forced the evacuation of around 10,000 people in the central region of Madrid. The measure means that the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the police and security forces, will take charge of the fire-fighting operations being carried out by the Spanish regions. The Madrid regional government, which covers a large area around the capital, has stated that 10,000 people have been evacuated from several villages as the fires rage out of control, whilst a heatwave is fuelling the flames. So far this year, over 100,000 hectares have gone up in smoke in Spain, including the second-largest fire on record, which in recent days has consumed around 32,000 hectares in the province of Guadalajara. Earlier this month, 13 people died in a fire in southern Spain.
Spain: 10,000 evacuated due to wildfires in the Madrid region; national state of emergency declared
Madrid (Spain), 24 July (LaPresse/AP) – The Spanish government has declared a national state of emergency after numerous wildfires forced the evacuation of around 10,000 people in the central region of Madrid. The measure means that the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the police and security forces, will take charge of the fire-fighting operations being carried out by the Spanish regions. The Madrid regional government, which covers a large area around the capital, has stated that 10,000 people have been evacuated from several villages as the fires rage out of control, whilst a heatwave is fuelling the flames. So far this year, over 100,000 hectares have gone up in smoke in Spain, including the second-largest fire on record, which in recent days has consumed around 32,000 hectares in the province of Guadalajara. Earlier this month, 13 people died in a fire in southern Spain.
