Madrid, July 30 (IANS) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Thursday the end of the national emergency declared over wildfires in the province of Avila and the Madrid region, as fires in the two areas have largely stabilised, while blazes remain active elsewhere amid a new heatwave and strong winds.
Speaking at an emergency command centre in Navaluenga, Avila, Sanchez said the decision followed consultations with regional authorities and technical teams. Management of the emergency will now return to regional governments under a lower, Level 2 operational status.
The Burgohondo fire in Avila has burned more than 50,000 hectares and is considered the largest wildfire ever recorded in Spain. The blaze has been technically stabilised, and residents who had been evacuated have been allowed to return home, Xinhua News Agency reported.
In Madrid’s western mountain areas, around 28,000 hectares have been affected. Firefighters are continuing to put out hotspots and monitor areas vulnerable to renewed outbreaks, while seven residential developments remain under evacuation orders.
Spain is currently facing its fourth heatwave of the summer. Extreme temperatures, low humidity and strong winds are complicating firefighting operations and raising the risk of flare-ups.
Although the national emergency in Avila and Madrid has been lifted, Spain’s broader wildfire crisis remains ongoing.
Since the start of the year, nearly 130,000 hectares have burned across Spain, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.
Thousands of firefighters, soldiers, police officers and civil protection personnel have been deployed across the affected areas. The Military Emergency Unit continues to play a central role in protecting communities and critical infrastructure while supporting regional firefighting teams.
Spain has also activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, under which Greece and Italy each offered two Canadair firefighting aircraft, together with an additional support aircraft. Italian aircraft had already joined suppression operations over Madrid and Avila on Saturday.
International assistance has also included 33 Greek and 14 Italian emergency personnel deployed to support Spanish emergency services, the military and security forces. Meanwhile, Portugal sent 129 firefighters and emergency personnel, along with 41 vehicles, including fire engines, command vehicles, bulldozers and ambulances, to reinforce firefighting efforts.
–IANS
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