Spain evacuates 70,000 people as wildfires threaten villages near Madrid

Spain’s government delegate to Madrid announced that another 25,000 residents were evacuated from villages near the capital after wildfires threatened the area, raising the total number of people displaced to 70,000. The latest evacuations took place in the Valle del Tietar region of Avila province, located west of Madrid, as well as in two villages within the Madrid region itself.

Officials say the fires have spread rapidly across the surrounding countryside, prompting authorities to move residents to safer locations. Francisco Martín, the delegate, briefed journalists on Saturday that the evacuations were part of a broader emergency response to the escalating wildfire situation in the region.

The government has urged residents to remain alert and follow instructions from local authorities as firefighting efforts continue. The total of 70,000 displaced people underscores the severity of the wildfire crisis affecting central Spain.