King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have concluded their three-day tour of Spanish regions affected by wildfires. The final stop was Extremadura, where the monarchs met with local residents, rescue workers, and government officials to personally offer their support and assess the scale of the disaster’s aftermath.
During their visit to the province of Cáceres, the royal couple stopped by the municipalities of Rebollar in the Valle del Jerte, Cabezabellosa, and Hervás in the Valle del Ambroz. In each town, they were welcomed by dozens of citizens. Residents thanked the monarchs for their attention, shared their experiences, and expressed gratitude for the show of solidarity during such a difficult time. Felipe and Letizia took time to speak with people, listening to their stories and responding to their words of support.
Addressing the residents, King Felipe conveyed his sympathy and assured them they would not be left alone in their troubles. He emphasized that one goal of the visit was to send a positive message to the entire country. The monarch called on Spaniards not to cancel trips to these areas, noting that tourism is a key factor in restoring the local economy. According to him, the famous valleys, despite the damage, remain beautiful and open to visitors.
Following a three-day trip that covered several affected regions of the country, Queen Letizia highlighted a problem common to all these areas. She stated that the tragedy underscored the need for a thorough analysis of its causes. In her view, the conversation should focus not only on improving fire prevention measures but also on systematically addressing rural depopulation, which leaves these lands more vulnerable to natural disasters.
King Felipe, in turn, called for a serious and comprehensive analysis of the situation at all levels of government. He stressed the need to review existing plans and regulations to improve the effectiveness of response to such catastrophes in the future. The monarch praised the professionalism and dedication of all services involved in extinguishing the fire—from firefighters and members of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias to civil protection and volunteers. He also reminded the public of the losses: while mass casualties were avoided, the deaths of four people are an irreparable loss. Now, according to the King, the main task is to help people restore their homes and rebuild their shattered lives.
The visit took place against the backdrop of the aftermath of one of the largest fires in the region’s history, known as the incendio de Jarilla, which destroyed about 18,000 hectares of forest. Accompanying the royal couple in visiting the affected areas were Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the President of Extremadura María Guardiola, and other officials, highlighting the seriousness of the situation at the national level.
