A huge fire is raging in Spain, smoke has reached the center of Madrid

A huge forest fire is raging near the Spanish capital and smoke has reached the center of the city, BNR reported. The fire broke out in the province of Toledo and quickly spread to the Madrid region.

The fire broke out in the Mentrida area, about 50 kilometers southwest of Madrid.

About 50 people have been evacuated, said the mayor of the municipality in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha region.

A partial evacuation was necessary. We recommended that the remaining residents isolate themselves - not to go outside and close their windows.

Similar recommendations were received from the Civil Protection for residents of Madrid, where the wind directed the smoke from the fire. Residents of - not to stay outside, to use masks to avoid inhaling the smoke. There was also an appeal to citizens to remain calm and let firefighters and other emergency services do their job.

Due to reduced visibility, a section of the highway between Toledo and the Spanish capital was closed.

Over 150 firefighters are fighting the fire, which has already burned 3,200 hectares. The wind and high temperatures are making their work difficult.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 25,000 hectares of forests and plantations have been destroyed in fires in Spain.