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Ongoing wildfires in Spain have displaced approximately 75,000 people, with blazes raging both around the capital and near the eastern coastal city of Valencia.
Strong winds are fueling concerns that the fires could spread further south, complicating firefighting efforts across the affected regions.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, visiting the fire zone west of Madrid on Sunday, said "difficult hours lie ahead" but added there were "positive" indications overnight towards containing the blaze.
"Difficult hours lie ahead, admittedly, but the update we received here ... indicates that the night was very positive regarding the fire's progression, its containment, and the firefighting efforts," Sanchez told reporters on a visit to the Avila area affected by fires.
Spanish authorities ordered the evacuation of eight additional municipalities near Toledo on Saturday evening, as wildfires continued to threaten areas west of Madrid, forcing residents to flee amid worsening conditions.
A wildfire in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia killed one person on Friday before firefighters brought it under control, authorities there said.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said late Saturday that wind speed—forecast to subside—would be crucial to how the firefighting went on Sunday. So far, "weather conditions have been extremely difficult," he said.
Spain reportedly has at least 29 aircraft in the air over its Madrid fire zone. Four planes also have been deployed by other countries to Spain. Weather conditions have complicated their efforts.
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