Spanish government activates national pre-emergency phase due to wildfires

Spain’s Interior Ministry has raised the level of the General State Emergency Plan (PLEGEM) to one and declared a pre-emergency phase in response to the numerous fires affecting various parts of the country.

According to a statement, Virginia Barcones, Director General of Civil Protection and Emergencies at the Interior Ministry, declared the Pre-emergency Phase at around 2am. this Tuesday August 12th in response to the numerous active forest fires that require aid and resources from the state.

The objective of the plan is to analyse and and coordinate the deployment of resources to assist the affected regions.

READ ALSO: What to do and what to avoid if you see a wildfire in Spain

The National Emergency Monitoring and Coordination Centre (CENEM) has also initiated a process of enhanced communication with the emergency centres in the various areas affected by these fires in order monitor the situation more accurately predict their possible development.

Officials from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET, and the Directorate General for Defense Policy (DIGENPOL), among other institutions have also been called to a State Coordination and Management Committee.

As of this Tuesday there are dozens of active fires around the country in Cádiz, León, Zamora, Toledo, Cáceres, Ourense and Madrid.

READ ALSO: Why are there so many forest fires in Spain?

Hundreds of residents in Tres Cantos in Madrid were evacuated from their homes.

"In barely 40 minutes, the fire advanced six kilometres," Carlos Novillo, Madrid's regional environment chief, told reporters.

Elsewhere, about 2,000 people were evacuated from hotels and homes near the popular beaches of Tarifa in the southern region of Andalusia.

"We managed to save the residential area at the very last second," said Antonio Sanz, the interior minister in the regional government of Andalusia.

READ ALSO: Spanish firefighters struggle to contain blaze at Roman-era site

In the northwestern region of Castilla y León​​, more than 30 blazes were reported, including one threatening Las Medulas, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient Roman gold mines.

The wildfires coincided with one of the most intense days of the ongoing heatwave, with all regions under weather alerts.

Forecasters warn of highs around 40C and overnight lows that remain above 25C.

With additional reporting from AFP.