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Pedro Sánchez says next 12 hours will be ‘decisive’ in battle to contain wildfires – Europe live
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Original article by Jakub Krupa
We are getting some heartbreaking pictures showing people returning to their homes near Madrid and finding their homes completely destroyed by the blaze.
While the situation near Madrid is gradually improving, the Spanish media are reporting that a separate fire near The Vall d’Uixó in the Castellón province is still spreading uncontrollably.
RTVE reported that it remains out of control after burning nearly 10,000 hectares across 81 kilometers, forcing authorities to evacuate some 10,000 people.
Updated
Next 12 hours will be decisive to consolidate progress made in fight against wildfires, Spain's Sánchez says
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has been speaking in the last ten minutes on his visit to a command post in Navalcarnero.
He said the current situation remains “favourable,” but the next 12 hours will be “decisive” in consolidating and securing the progress made by the firefighters as temperatures rise and create new risks.
Sánchez also asked those displaced by fires for trust and patience, as he said these decisions are not political, but taken on scientific advice as to when these returns are safe.
As is customary in the last few days, he also warned people against believing hoaxes and conspiracy theories spread on social media.
In Spain, thousands of people have been allowed back to their homes last night near Madrid, even as emergency services still continue to fight the blazes.
24,000 evacuees returned to the area, with another 20,000 released from stay at home orders.
More progress have been made overnight too, but local authorities urged caution as the new heatwave is set to hit the area.
“Efforts will focus on securing the perimeter, monitoring for new hotspots and cooling the areas to keep control of the fire,” a statement said.
Temperatures in high 30s, low 40s expected across France, Spain
Météo-France’s weather forecast shows temperatures up to 39C near Bordeaux – just where the largest wildfire continues to blaze – 38C in Lyon, 37C in Paris and Toulouse.
Over in Spain, it will be even hotter, with Aemet expecting 42C in Pamplona, 41C in Cordova and Saragossa, 40C in Ciudad-Real and Toledo, and 37C in Madrid.
The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has delayed going on holiday and stays in Paris to manage the wildfire crisis, BFMTV reported.
Despite clear progress made in tackling the blazes, there are continuing concerns over the potential impact of the latest heatwave, starting today.
Firefighters continue to battle blazes in France, Spain - in pictures
Morning opening: France and Spain brace for heatwave as they make progress battling wildfires
France and Spain are braced for the fourth heatwave of the summer to hit just as they were making progress battling destructive wildfires, with temperatures once again expected to cross into high 30s and low 40s celsius later today.
Sophie Brocas, the prefect of Gironde and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, said overnight that the fire remained contained this morning, with several flare-ups quickly brought under control.
“We will win this war,” the communications director for the French Firefighters Federation, Éric Brocardi, told broadcaster BFMTV.
But the return of high temperatures puts authorities on high alert for new potential fires. Sixty-five French departments were put on a high fire risk warning.
Over in Spain, the government’s regional representatives in Madrid are warning of “extreme” fire danger in parts of the region. But, encouragingly, the main forest fire near the capital remained stable overnight, with no significant flare-ups.
I will bring you all the updates here.
It’s Wednesday, 29 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.