NASA evacuates space base urgently due to worst wildfires in Madrid history.
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been forced to withdraw all personnel from a key space station as the worst wildfire in history spread across Madrid, Spain. This disaster has directly affected more than 60,000 people, prompting the local government to declare a national state of emergency.
The intense heat of the fire directly threatened NASA's Madrid Deep Space Communications Station (MDSCC), a facility located approximately 65km west of the Spanish capital. A NASA media representative confirmed the blaze had swept through the station's grounds. Fortunately, all personnel had been safely evacuated beforehand. An assessment of material damage will begin once firefighters have brought the situation under control.
MDSCC is a strategic facility, serving as one of three global links that help NASA maintain communication with spacecraft on missions in deep space. To ensure uninterrupted space missions, NASA activated a backup plan, immediately transferring all operational control to the other two stations in Canberra (Australia) and California (USA).
The fire threatening the NASA facility comes amid a devastating wildfire disaster in Madrid, fueled by strong winds and extreme heat. Local officials say two large fires have merged, burning approximately 6,000 hectares and threatening several residential areas.
According to a report from the Spanish Interior Ministry as of July 24 (local time), the number of people evacuated or under lockdown orders has reached 63,000. Rescue forces have had to organize the emergency evacuation of 5,000 tourists at the historic El Escorial campsite, along with more than 1,000 elderly and disabled people from nursing homes in the affected area.
In response to the devastating developments, the Spanish government declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region and the neighboring province of Avila, and mobilized the United Military Emergency Response Force (UME) to directly coordinate the response. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will chair an emergency meeting in the affected area on July 25 to direct the recovery efforts.
Regarding the cause of the incident, local police have arrested one suspect and are investigating another. These individuals are accused of unintentionally causing a fire due to violating regulations prohibiting the use of agricultural machinery during an extreme weather warning.