Spain battles largest recorded wildfire as nearly 100,000 affected

Smoke rises as flames burn during a wildfire near Vilavella and Vall d'Uixo, Castellon, Spain, July 25, 2026. [Photo/Agencies]

MADRID -- Wildfires continued to rage across central Spain on Sunday, with the blaze in Avila province becoming the largest on record in the country's history after burning around 50,000 hectares, according to authorities.

Spain's Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen said wildfires affecting the Madrid region and the provinces of Avila and Toledo had burned more than 77,000 hectares in total.

The Madrid region, Avila and Toledo have been the hardest-hit areas, with nearly 100,000 people evacuated or ordered to remain indoors across 46 municipalities. Another wildfire that broke out over the weekend in the eastern province of Castellon has affected more than 16,000 people in 18 municipalities.

Thousands of firefighters, supported by Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), firefighting aircraft and helicopters, continued battling the blazes on Sunday.