A wildfire in Vall d'Uixò has forced 15,000 people from their homes across 15 towns. Seven people are injured. In Manises, a separate fire has left one dead and several hospitalized. Authorities coordinate large-scale evacuations.
Emergency services in Castellón are battling a wildfire in Vall d'Uixò that has triggered the evacuation of approximately 15,000 residents from 15 municipalities. The fire, which has already spread across a 21-kilometer perimeter, remains beyond the reach of containment efforts, according to regional authorities. The rapid advance of the flames has left local officials and emergency teams with little time to act, forcing swift evacuations in multiple communities.
Among the areas most affected are two neighborhoods in Vall d'Uixò and two in Betxí, where the rest of the population remains under confinement orders. Entire towns including Vilavella, Artana, Eslida, Tales, Artesa (a district of Onda), Aín, Alcudia de Veo, Alfondeguilla, Sueras, Torralba, Villamalur, Fuentes de Ayódar, and Chóvar have also been cleared as a precaution. Many evacuees were staying in second homes and have since returned to their primary residences, while others have been relocated to temporary shelters set up in sports centers in Nules, Moncofa, Onda, and soon Segorbe.
Medical teams have responded to several injuries linked to the fire. One person is being treated in the burns unit at Hospital La Fe in Valencia, while six others required emergency care. Three of those remain hospitalized for smoke inhalation at Hospital de La Plana, as confirmed by the regional emergency coordination center.
In a separate incident, a forest fire in the barranco del Salt de l'Aigua area of Manises (Valencia) has resulted in the death of one person. Five others suffered injuries from smoke inhalation and burns and were transported to Hospital de Manises, according to the local council and as reported by Europa Press.
Authorities, including the president of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, and national officials such as the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, and the Government Delegate in the Comunitat, Pilar Bernabé, have praised the coordinated response of security forces, local councils, and emergency services. The scale and speed of the evacuations have tested local resources, with officials highlighting the cooperation between state, regional, and municipal bodies.
Spain has faced a series of severe wildfires in recent years, with mass evacuations becoming increasingly common during periods of extreme weather. The current crisis in Castellón follows similar emergencies elsewhere in the country, such as the recent events in Girona, where lockdowns were lifted after a major blaze was stabilized. For further context on how Spanish regions are managing wildfire threats and large-scale evacuations, see this report on the response to the Les Gavarres fire in Girona.
Wildfires in Spain are often exacerbated by high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds, particularly in the summer months. The country has invested in improved coordination between regional and national emergency services, but the scale of recent incidents continues to challenge available resources. The situation in Castellón underscores the ongoing vulnerability of many Spanish communities to fast-moving fires and the importance of rapid, organized evacuations to protect lives.
