Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday said the country's priority was to "save lives" as firefighters battled record-breaking wildfires west of Madrid, warning that unpredictable winds could quickly worsen conditions despite cooler temperatures.
The blazes have forced about 70,000 people to flee their homes after fresh evacuations in Madrid and neighboring Avila province, making it one of the largest wildfire evacuations in Spain's recent history.
Thick smoke blanketed western Madrid, with the smell of burning reaching the city center and prompting residents to keep windows shut.
"Our priority... is to save your lives and protect inhabited areas," Sanchez said during a visit to the fire zone in Cenicientos, cautioning that the coming hours would remain "complex" because of uncertain wind conditions.
Spain's biggest fire battle intensifies
Officials said overnight cooler weather provided a brief opportunity to slow the flames, but warned that erratic winds could reignite rapid fire spread.
Two major wildfires west of Madrid merged on Friday into a single massive blaze, with authorities also monitoring the risk of it linking up with another fire in neighboring Castilla y León.
Local officials described the disaster as the worst wildfire the region has ever recorded.
"We are very worried for the residents who are suffering from these terrible fires," Brunete Mayor Mar Nicolás said. "Every year there are fires, but this one has been tremendous. It is a catastrophe."
France's fire crisis deepens
The wildfire emergency has also intensified in France, where Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said nearly 98,000 hectares have burned in what he called a "historic record."
Almost 197,000 people have been evacuated from areas near Bordeaux as firefighters, backed by large cargo aircraft dropping fire retardant, battle major blazes in the Gironde and Landes regions.
Several fires across the country remain out of control.
