Today's Edition
MADRID (AFP)
Thousands of Spanish evacuated during massive wildfires started to return home on Wednesday as the government said they were working to contain some of the worst forest fires in the country's modern history.
Late on Tuesday, the government had lifted evacuation orders on more than a dozen municipalities in the Madrid and Avila areas, the epicentre of wildfires that had forced tens of thousands to be displaced.
"24,000 evacuated individuals have been able to return to their homes, and another 20,000 have been released from confinement in the Community of Madrid," government delegate Francisco Martin Aguirre said on X late Tuesday.
"Work continues to consolidate the progress made throughout the day in tackling the fire. The return of evacuees is proceeding without incident."
High winds and a new heatwave have complicated Spain's efforts to battle the blazes that consumed around 77,000 hectares -- an area almost the size of New York City.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters on Tuesday firefighters were containing the fires but work on Wednesday would look to stabilise and extinguish all the flames.
A similar easing of restrictions was already implemented in the eastern area of Castellon near Valencia, where the municipality of Vall d'Uixo lifted a confinement order for residents on Tuesday morning.
