Wildfire in Spain prompts state of emergency

On 24 July 2026, wildfires near Madrid led Spain to declare an emergency for Madrid and Ávila. Euronews wrote that more than 10,000 people were forced to flee, and later figures ranged from 19,000 to 36,000 evacuated, with El País putting the number affected in Madrid and Ávila at more than 60,000. Two of the three fires, which burned about 6,000 hectares west of Madrid, merged. Authorities called the Madrid fire impossible to extinguish, and France 24 called it the worst wildfire in Madrid's history.

Ayuso called the fire 'unprecedented' and 'a perfect storm'. The flames reached the Safari Madrid park, where the most dangerous animals were confined, and 16 villages lost phone coverage. In France, tens of thousands fled fires and one blaze advanced toward Bordeaux, while tourists at Cap Ferret fled by sea.