Madrid: Firefighters have successfully contained a wildfire in the Tres Cantos area near the Spanish capital, Madrid, which tragically resulted in one fatality and led to the evacuation of 180 residents, regional authorities announced.
According to Bahrain News Agency, favourable overnight conditions played a crucial role in bringing the blaze under control. The Community of Madrid confirmed the unfortunate death of a man who was airlifted to La Paz hospital after sustaining burns on 98% of his body.
The wildfire ravaged over 1,000 hectares in the affected region. Meanwhile, Spain continues to endure a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures anticipated to soar to 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 F) in certain areas, as reported by meteorology service AEMET.
Scientists have identified the Mediterranean region as highly susceptible to wildfires due to its hotter and drier summers. Once ignited, dry vegetation and strong winds can quickly escalate fires, causing them to spread uncontrollably and sometimes generate fire whirls.