More than 16,000 people have been evacuated from their homes to safety in eastern Spain after a fast-moving wildfire in Castellón province spread beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain it.
The blaze, burning in the Espadà mountain range in the Valencia region, has expanded across a perimeter of more than 21 kilometres. Officials said the fire remains out of control as hot, dry and windy conditions continue to fuel its spread.
Firefighters shared dramatic footage showing engines driving past towering flames as crews battled to stop the fire advancing through wooded hillsides.
In a statement on social media, Castellón firefighters said, "When the force of nature prevails, wildfires can develop characteristics that at times exceed the extinguishing capacity of any fire service in the world."
Authorities ordered further evacuations on Sunday (26 July), including residents of the Texas neighbourhood in La Vall d'Uixó, as the fire continued to threaten nearby communities.
Mayor Tania Baños said emergency officials had decided to expand the evacuation because they were facing a "totally uncontrolled fire".
She said those forced to leave would be taken to "areas where they can remain in total safety", while urging residents to follow official advice and emergency instructions.
The latest evacuations have pushed the total number of people displaced across 15 municipalities to more than 16,000.
The Castellón blaze is one of several major wildfires burning across Spain.
In central Spain, large fires remain active in Madrid and Ávila, where around 100,000 people have been affected through evacuations or confinement measures. More than 45,000 hectares have already been burned.
Authorities said the fire in the mountains west of Madrid remained active and unstable on Sunday, despite slower overnight fire activity allowing crews to strengthen containment lines and focus on protecting nearby communities.
Emergency services warned that efforts to control the fires will continue to be challenged by high temperatures, low humidity and unpredictable winds.
State, regional and international firefighting teams remain deployed across the affected areas as authorities work to contain the blazes and prevent further damage.
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