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Ávila blaze confirmed as Spain's worst in decades as toll nears 77,000 hectares

· Environment ESPFRA
Part of European Wildfires

Three converging wildfires across central Spain have scorched an estimated 77,000 hectares, as authorities confirmed the Ávila fire alone destroyed 47,000 hectares — potentially the country's largest on record since 1968, surpassing earlier estimates after the Ávila blaze merged with the Sierra Oeste de Madrid fire.

The Interior Ministry said evacuations and mobility restrictions affected roughly 90,000 people, while the Civil Guard deployed drones to detect new flare-ups. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said more than 170,000 hectares have burned nationwide this year. Authorities hope to contain the blazes by Tuesday night before a fresh heatwave arrives Wednesday.

The Spanish Meteorological Agency said 2026 has been the hottest January-to-July period ever recorded in Spain. To the north, fires in France's Gironde department consumed 42,000 hectares.

Story development

  1. Ávila blaze confirmed as Spain's worst in decades as toll nears 77,000 hectares
  2. Spain braces for fourth heatwave as wildfire toll hits 153,000 hectares
  3. Spain's third heatwave of summer pushes temperatures to 45°C as Guadalajara fire toll doubles
  4. Wildfire in central Spain burns past 12,000 hectares as Zaragoza blaze nears containment
  5. Wildfire near Zaragoza expands to 7,600 hectares as fifth village evacuated
  6. Death toll rises to 13 in southern Spain wildfire as victims identified
  7. Wildfires rage across southern Europe, killing at least 12 in Spain and scorching record French acreage

Covered by 20 outlets across 11 countries

Sources

The reporting this story is built on

lavanguardia.com ESP El seguimiento del incendio en España a vista de dronrtp.pt PRT Bombeiros combatem fogos perto de Madrid antes de agravamento de condições meteorológicas20minutes.fr FRA « Ça me prenait à la gorge »… Ces Français racontent les feux près de Madrid
Additional coverage

Others reporting the same event

leparisien.fr FRA Incendies près de Madrid : l’Espagne entrevoit « la lumière au bout du tunnel », mais les dégâts et le traumatisme sont immenseseuronews.com Ισπανία: Η νύχτα ήταν «σχετικά θετική» στις φωτιές σε Μαδρίτη, Άβιλα, Τολέδοdemorgen.be BEL ‘Een wake-upcall’: gigantische bosbranden doorbreken de bubbel van Madridwatson.ch CHE Waldbrände bei Madrid: Zehntausende kehren nach fast einer Woche zurückelmundo.es ESP Incendios en Madrid, Vall d'Uixó y resto de España, última hora, en directo | Horas decisivas en la lucha contra el fuego ante la llegada de la ola de calorderstandard.at AUT Waldbrände bei Madrid: "Innerhalb von 30 Minuten waren die Flammen da"efe.com ESP Los incendios de Ávila y Madrid están "técnicamente estabilizados" - EFErtbf.be BEL Direct – Incendies en Europe : des reprises de feux en Gironde mais l’incendie reste stabilisé, le bilan monte à 14 morts dans le sud de l’Espagne

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