Thousands of people have been evacuated due to wildfires
Spanish officials continue to provide updates to residents and tourists during wildfires that have forced thousands to evacuate their properties. Authorities have announced a national emergency due to the blazes, with scorching temperatures expected to persist throughout the week.
In a fresh update on Tuesday morning, Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic posted on X, previously known as Twitter, that 47 roads remain shut, stating: “We ask you to avoid traveling on roads in the western Sierra de Madrid, in the fire zones of Ávila, Toledo, and Castellón, and to stay informed through official channels.”
Spain’s national meteorological service AEMET confirmed that the heatwave will persist with “intense heat and dryness once again pushing fire danger levels to the very high or extreme”.
Such circumstances, AEMET warned, are expected to persist in the coming days – with fire risk predicted for the following week. Road closures affect the provinces of Ávila, Castellón, Madrid, and Toledo.
The UK government isn’t issuing specific travel warnings for Spain, though it does recommend exercising caution. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to urge Brits in wildfire-affected areas to “follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services at all times; check updates from the emergency services; and call 112 if you need emergency help”.
The Met Office forecasts a scorching 39C in Madrid this week, with anticipated highs of 41C in Toledo. Wildfires are also raging in areas of France, resulting in approximately 300,000 individuals having to evacuate their homes across the two European countries.