Spain requests EU assistance to combat forest fires in Madrid

Madrid, July 24 (KUNA) -- Spanish state television reported that Spain has asked the European Union to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism to assist in combating wildfires ravaging the Madrid region. It added that the Madrid regional government has requested Brussels to provide at least four firefighting aircraft, as operations continue to tackle three wildfires in the capital region and more than 11 others in various parts of the country, coinciding with the third heatwave of the summer.

The Madrid regional government announced that the three fires affecting the region remain out of control. Despite progress made in recent hours, firefighting teams had not fully contained them by Friday morning. It added that more than 270 firefighters and military emergency personnel continue to work to contain the blazes, which have forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people in the capital region. Weather conditions, particularly strong winds, are expected to further complicate firefighting efforts throughout the day.

The Spanish government had declared a national emergency in Madrid and the neighboring province of Avila, in the Castile and Leon region, after the fires exceeded the capacity of regional authorities, prompting them to ask the central government to coordinate the response and deploy additional resources. (End) H.N.D./T.M.A.