Spain lifts national emergency over wildfires, maintains alert status

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Thursday the end of the national emergency that had been imposed due to wildfires in Madrid and Avila, which forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

Sanchez said that the Military Emergency Unit and the National Civil Protection System would continue to operate in the affected areas of Madrid and Avila, according to the Spanish government website.

He added: "We have moved to operational level two, leaving the national emergency behind, but we remain on alert to face the heatwave and the high risk of new fires."

Sanchez described the development as "very good news and a source of reassurance," while stressing that, amid the fourth heatwave of the summer, the alert status would remain in place.

Pedro Sanchez emphasized that "the next 12 hours will be crucial in strengthening the work being carried out by the National Civil Protection System," warning that a new heatwave and changing wind conditions could worsen the situation.

Speaking to the media, Sanchez pledged that the government "will provide all necessary resources" to rebuild the affected areas, and recalled that the Cabinet had declared the region a disaster zone due to the civil protection emergency, so that all needed assistance could be delivered to local residents immediately.

He also reiterated the need for a national pact to address climate emergencies, calling on all public institutions, political parties, and social groups to unite, saying that "by doing so, we will not only provide a unified response to serious disasters such as wildfires, but also work proactively in prevention and later in reconstruction."