A Level 2 emergency has been declared after a mammoth forest fire broke out near Madrid on Thursday.
Footage shared by firefighters shows the snaking inferno taking hold in Mentrida, in Toledo.
The smoke has already spread to several areas south of the capital, such as Móstoles, Alcorcón, El Álamo, and Navalcarnero.
By 8pm on Thursday, smoke was also filling parts of Madrid city itself, including Chamberi and Atocha.
The Castilla-La Mancha authorities have established a Level 2 alert, and they fear possible damage to non-forest assets and infrastructure, according to the forestry services of the La Mancha region on their X account.
Furthermore, traffic has been blocked on the A-5 highway between the towns of Navalcarnero and Valmojado (Toledo).
They have also implemented a lockdown and other protective measures in the Calypo Fado residential area near Madrid.
Madrid 112 Security and Emergency Agents have recommended that Navalcarnero residents ‘remain indoors with their windows closed as much as possible’ and avoid traveling to the area.
The fire is being fought by ground troops and multiple aircraft, with crews preparing to work through the night and well into Friday to extinguish the blaze.
