Authorities in Aragón have ordered the evacuation of Uncastillo. The wildfire has already destroyed over 4,500 hectares. Residents are being relocated as the fire continues to spread.
The Government of Aragón has ordered the immediate evacuation of Uncastillo, making it the fifth urban area in Zaragoza province forced to clear out due to the relentless wildfire sweeping through Cinco Villas. The decision, announced just after 11 a.m. on Thursday, comes as the fire—still uncontrolled and with its cause yet to be disclosed—has already devastated more than 4,500 hectares, according to the regional Crisis Center.
Nearly 600 residents of Uncastillo received an ES-Alert as flames advanced dangerously close to the town. The evacuation is described as a preventive measure, but the urgency is heightened by strong southern winds that have complicated firefighting efforts and increased the risk of the blaze spreading further.
Evacuees from Uncastillo are being transported to the Casino de Ejea de los Caballeros, where 80 people from Luesia, Asín, and Orés—towns evacuated the previous day—are already sheltering after spending the night in the local sports center. In addition, all 40 elderly residents from the Uncastillo care home have been moved to a facility in Zaragoza, joining around 100 seniors from other affected towns who were relocated on Wednesday.
This latest evacuation underscores the scale of the emergency in the region, where authorities are racing to protect both residents and vulnerable groups. The strong winds have made containment especially challenging, forcing rapid decisions and large-scale relocations. The situation in Zaragoza echoes recent wildfire emergencies elsewhere in Spain, such as the Los Gallardos fire in Almería, where containment efforts and victim identification drew national attention—details of which can be found in this report on the Los Gallardos response.
Wildfires have become an increasingly frequent threat in Spain, particularly during periods of high temperatures and strong winds. The rapid mobilization of emergency services and the use of mass alert systems like ES-Alert reflect evolving strategies to safeguard communities. In the case of Cinco Villas, the coordinated evacuation of multiple towns and care facilities highlights both the vulnerability of rural areas and the logistical challenges faced by regional authorities. As the fire continues to burn, the focus remains on protecting lives and preventing further destruction, while the cause of the initial outbreak in Orés remains under investigation.
