Nearly 6,000 Residents Evacuated In Multiple Regions Of Spain As "Explosive" Fires Expand In 110F Heatwave

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Last edited Tue Aug 12, 2025, 08:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Almost 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in northern, central and southern Spain as wildfires continue to burn amid a heatwave that could bring temperatures of 44C to some parts of the country.

The deadly heat across large parts of Europe has created what scientists have called a “molotov cocktail” of climatic conditions that is fuelling vast wildfires.

A man caught in a blaze on Monday night in Tres Cantos, near Madrid, died in hospital after suffering 98% burns. The fire – described by the regional environment minister as having “explosive characteristics because of a dry storm that has brought winds of more than 70km/h” – was being brought under control on Tuesday morning, with 180 people forced to evacuate and spend the night in local sports centres.

In the north-western region of Castilla y León, more than 3,700 people were evacuated from 16 municipalities. Ten fires were still burning on Tuesday and the Unesco world heritage-listed Roman-era mining site at Les Médulas was damaged by the flames. In the southern town of Tarifa, firefighters and planes were still battling a fire that broke out on Monday, with 2,000 people evacuated.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/thousands-evacuated-in-spain-amid-deadly-wildfires-and-new-heatwave