Spain has declared a national emergency as massive wildfires continue to spread across several regions, forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents from Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Aldea del Fresno. The move places the response under the direct authority of the country’s Interior Ministry.

Under Spain’s National Civil Protection System, the Interior Minister will coordinate firefighting and emergency operations. Authorities said this is the first time a national emergency has been declared specifically due to a wildfire. More than 270 emergency personnel, 40 ground units, and Military Emergency Unit (UME) teams have been deployed to battle the fires.

The wildfires have already burned over 100,000 hectares across Spain this year, matching the country’s average annual burned area over the past decade. Officials said 13 people have lost their lives, making 2026 one of Spain’s deadliest wildfire seasons in recent decades.

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