The King highlighted, this midday, after visiting with the Queen a group of residents evacuated from the fire zones, the importance of the coordinated work of all administrations, operatives, and volunteers. “United, any risk can be faced,” said the King upon leaving the La Chopera sports center, in the Madrid municipality of Villamanta, which hosts the evacuated residents of Villa del Prado, Aldea del Fresno, and other municipalities in the southwest of the Community of Madrid.
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The Kings have spoken with the residents to learn about the situation of those affected, show their support for the displaced families, and thank the work of the volunteers who are collaborating in their care and assistance.
“Many have lost their belongings, they are having a very hard time, the natural heritage suffers incalculable damage, and there are still many risks,” said the King, who, at the same time, thanked the work of all personnel and resources, “men and women who are deployed, with professional, dedicated, and arduous work.” “The main thing,” he continued, “is to preserve human life, then the populations, and, as far as possible, minimize the damage. We must insist on the need to follow the authorities’ instructions, so that movements are as effective as possible and that, all of us, to the best of our abilities, collaborate and look to the future, so that in the future the damages are less and that affects us all,” concluded the King, not without first thanking the help of other countries and sending his solidarity to France, which is also being hit by several fires.
The Queen also wanted to send a message and spoke about the importance of listening to the residents, “understanding the sadness they convey and their questions, what will I find? and what can be done to prevent this from happening again?” she said, concluding by sharing that everyone, “in addition, is very grateful for the help.”
Upon their arrival near the sports center, the Kings greeted a large group of Villamanta residents who are helping the inhabitants of other towns who have had to leave their homes. Subsequently, Felipe and Letizia entered the facilities, where cameras were not allowed to preserve the privacy of the displaced residents. In the facilities, where camp beds have been set up, more than two hundred people have spent the last nights and days.
The Kings are accompanied by the head general of the UME, Francisco Javier Ramos; the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the mayor of Villamanta, Mariano Núñez, and the Third Vice President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen. It was the Community that reported the presence of the Kings, which was later confirmed by Zarzuela.
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Before meeting with the Queen and going together to Villamanta, the King, who was in Palma, after landing at the Torrejón de Ardoz air base, went to the headquarters of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) where he held a meeting on the fire situation, during which telematics connections will be made with different points of the various units deployed in the area.
According to the Community of Madrid, there are currently 15 reception points for the fire, where 2,468 people are being attended to, 220 of whom are in Villamanta.
The King has been following the evolution of the fires from Palma, establishing telephone contact with the mayors of the most affected municipalities. According to Zarzuela, throughout Friday and Saturday, Felipe VI spoke with the mayors of Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Navalagamella, Valdemaqueda, Aldea del Fresno, Zarzalejo, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Villa del Prado, and Pelayos de la Presa.
at the meeting of the State Coordination and Management Committee (Cecod) of the State Emergency Plan)-FRANCISCO GÓMEZ/CASA DEL REY
On Friday, the King participated, via videoconference, in the meeting of the State Coordination and Management Committee (CECOD) of the State Emergency Plan. Throughout the day, the King also contacted the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, as well as the presidents of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso; of Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco; and of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, to inquire about the situation caused by the fires affecting these communities.
The King is scheduled to travel early this Monday, heading to Lima to attend the inauguration ceremonies of the new president Keiko Fujimori. Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Household are evaluating the possibility of suspending this trip.
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