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WATCH: Hundreds evacuated from their homes as more worrying wildfires grip Spain
Emergency services are facing difficulty in putting out the fires due to tricky terrain and high winds
Spain is once again battling major wildfires, this time with severe outbreaks in rural Ávila (Castilla y León) and Cáceres (Extremadura), in the western inland part of the peninsular. People in some towns in these provinces have been evacuated from their homes as a safety measure, while a separate blaze in Pontevedra (Galicia) has also triggered emergency measures as high temperatures and winds complicate firefighting efforts.
Fire in Ávila
En el #IFCuevasDelValle, a pesar del enorme trabajo realizado por medios aéreos y terrestres durante todo el día, se han reactivado los flancos de cabeza izquierdo y derecho #INFOCAL
— Naturaleza Castilla y León (@naturalezacyl) July 29, 2025
Las rachas de viento complican extinción
Realizado el cambio de medios https://t.co/G0Ctp9IYao pic.twitter.com/X12hm214sV
In southern Ávila, the fire in the Barranco de las Cinco Villas area remains highly active and out of control. The towns of El Arenal and Mombeltrán, with around 4,000 residents, have been placed under lockdown.
According to regional officials, flames and smoke triggered the first lockdown, while a technical intervention in Mombeltrán prompted the second. Fire officials estimate that between 1,500 and 2,000 hectares have already burned within a 25-kilometre perimeter.
The Director General of Forest Heritage and Forest Policy for Castilla y León, José Ángel Arranz, described the situation as “very complicated,” citing extreme weather conditions and the suspected “intentional origin” of the fire.
More than 500 personnel and 200 vehicles are working in shifts to contain the blaze, but are being hindered by strong winds, not to mention the rugged terrain and dense vegetation.
Fire in Cáceres
En el #IFCaminimorisco 🔥 #Cáceres, los equipos del Primer Batallón han trabajado en misiones de ataque directo a las llamas en el sector asignado y preparado líneas de defensa con máquinas de ingenieros #D5 y #D7
— UME (@UMEgob) July 31, 2025
Despliegue actual: 238 militaresy 91 medios pic.twitter.com/DKq4Qh3d6R
Meanwhile, in Cáceres, the fire in Las Hurdes has already consumed over 2,500 hectares. Though some progress has been made, with around 65-70% of the fire’s perimeter now stabilised, large parts of the blaze remain uncontrolled.
Approximately 200 residents have been evacuated from multiple small villages, and concerns persist about the inaccessibility of the terrain near the Avellanar and Horcajo areas.
La Guardia Civil ha establecido un perímetro de seguridad para evitar daños personales y facilitar la extinción del incendio declarado en Las Hurdes (Cáceres). #incendiosforestales #incendio #Hurdes pic.twitter.com/RBWxnUDvNF
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) July 30, 2025
José Antonio Bayón, Director General of Fire Prevention and Extinction for Extremadura, warned that fully stabilising the fire could take several more days. Emergency services, including the Military Emergency Unit (UME), are currently focused on preventing the flames from advancing further into populated areas.
Fire in Pontevedra
In Galicia, a separate fire has forced evacuations in Valeixe, in the town of A Cañiza, Pontevedra. Around 200 hectares have burned so far, and efforts are ongoing to bring the situation under control.
Just across the border in northern Portugal, wildfires have also been active, in what is shaping up to be a very bad summer for wildfires so far.
Spanish authorities continue to coordinate regional and national efforts, with aerial support and ground teams deployed across multiple fronts.
As temperatures remain high and winds persist, the coming days are expected to be critical in determining whether these fires can be contained.
Image: Naturaleza Castilla y León
staff.inc.ali
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