MADRID, JUL 24: More than 430 elderly people and people with disabilities were evacuated Friday from five care facilities in the Madrid region due to the dangers from wildfires, the regional government said.
Television images showed Guardia Civil police officers wearing face masks helping elderly residents in wheelchairs board buses as care homes were evacuated.
The largest evacuation operation took place in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, with most of the 178 residents at the private Lopez Rumayor care home evacuated to the municipal sports hall, the regional government said in a statement.
Two care homes were evacuated in Aldrea del Fresno as well as one in Pelayos de la Presa and another in Navas del Rey.
Officials have issued evacuation orders for around 10,000 people in the Madrid region due to the fires, where some in the city woke up to the smell of smoke, according to residents.
