More than 1,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in Zaragoza, Spain, after a wildfire described as potentially the worst of the year tore through the northern region of Aragon. The blaze, which ignited on Wednesday, has consumed nearly 16,000 hectares—an area roughly the size of Manchester—and remains far from being stabilised, authorities said.
Drone Footage Reveals Scale of Destruction
Shocking new drone footage captured by Spain's Guardia Civil shows the sheer magnitude of the inferno. The video reveals yellow flames illuminating massive pillars of smoke at night, with the fire's orange borders stretching miles into the distance. The blaze has been spreading at an estimated rate of 60 metres per minute, fuelled by erratic winds and low humidity.
The fire has ripped through the historic Cinco Villas area, a picturesque holiday hotspot, forcing the evacuation of residents from Malpica de Arba, Orés, Asín, Luesia and Uncastillo. Some homes in these areas have been damaged by the flames.
Emergency Response and Evacuations
Around 400 emergency responders, backed by 19 aircraft, have been battling the flames for days. Despite their efforts, the fire remains at a critical stage. Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, Aragón's regional minister for finance, the interior and public administration, said: "We had a very difficult night, with erratic winds. We've made significant progress thanks to the efforts of every authority and all the teams deployed, but there's still a huge amount of work ahead."
He added: "This is likely to become one of the biggest and most complex wildfires the region has faced in recent years. It'll take days to bring under control and many more days to extinguish."
Residents of Uncastillo also received an ES-Alert, Spain's nationwide emergency warning system. Evacuees have been housed with relatives or at a sports centre in Ejea de los Caballeros, which currently shelters around 80 people. An additional 54 residents from care homes in affected municipalities have been relocated to facilities in Zaragoza.
Support for Affected Residents
The regional government has prioritised protecting residents in the fire's path. De Castro stated: "Our absolute priority remains protecting people. That's why Orés, Asín, Luesia and Malpica de Arba were evacuated, elderly care home residents were moved and we're maintaining all the resources needed to support those affected and guarantee their safety."
Psychological support has been provided by the Red Cross, the Aragon Institute of Social Services, and the regional emergency psychological intervention team. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said his government has mobilised "all the necessary resources to deal with the emergency" and urged "extreme caution" from the public.
