Forest fire rages north of Madrid

 

TT-AFP 

 

Published 20:35

 

Rescue services in the area ten kilometers north of Madrid are being helped by the military as they work to extinguish the fire. Photo: Spanish military/AFP/TT

A forest fire is raging and spreading in a mountainous area north of Madrid. 13,000 hectares have burned and the fire is described as difficult to extinguish.

More than 700 people have been evacuated and around 300 firefighters are working to try to extinguish the fire that broke out on Thursday, according to local authorities.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez writes on X that his government is closely following the forest fire and thanks the rescue services who are “working tirelessly” to protect lives.

The flames have spread to parts of the Sierra Norte nature reserve where many endangered species are found.

Spanish rescue services also state that a forest fire that broke out near Zaragoza earlier this week is under control.