MORE THAN 70,000 EVACUATED AS WILDFIRES SPREAD NEAR MADRID

MADRID, JULY 25 /SRNA/ – More than 70,000 people were evacuated on Friday as large wildfires swept through areas near Madrid, Francisco Martín Aguirre, head of the regional administration, stated.

Aguirre said 38,000 residents were evacuated from the province of Ávila, northwest of the Spanish capital, while a further 35,000 people were forced to leave their homes in communities surrounding Madrid.

According to Spain's Interior Ministry, more than 20,000 people remain unable to leave their homes because of the fires.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government declared yesterday a national emergency for the affected areas around Madrid and in Ávila province.

The Interior Ministry said weather conditions improved overnight, helping firefighters gain better control of the blazes.