New heatwave near Madrid will determine outcome of wildfires

29.07.2026 18:00 HotInfo

Firefighting continues near Madrid, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday that the next 12 hours will be decisive for getting them under control. According to him, the situation around Madrid is favorable for now, but a new heatwave is returning to the area, which could once again complicate the work of firefighters. hnonline.sk ↗

The fires in the western part of the Madrid region have already required the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. At the same time, authorities have allowed thousands of people to return home, although concerns about further developments persist. Spanish authorities have described the fire near Madrid as the worst in the region's history, with the flames affecting thousands of hectares. aktuality.sk ↗

The crisis also affects the areas of Ávila, Toledo and Castellón. The government had already introduced unified command earlier, given the risk that the fires in the Madrid and Ávila areas could merge into a single large blaze. Approximately a hundred members of the Portuguese army have joined the firefighting effort in the Ávila zone, and foreign assistance also included four support aircraft from Greece and Italy. SITA ↗

The government emphasizes that the safety of evacuated people remains the priority. The Ministry of the Interior points to coordination between the central government and the autonomous communities during the crisis, which has affected several parts of Spain. Further developments will depend mainly on temperatures, wind, and the ability of the responding units to keep the fire's advance under control. The Guardian ↗

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