King Felipe VI has highlighted the "good message" conveyed by the "exemplary coordination" among the different administrations in the firefighting efforts, also emphasizing that "together we can face any risk."
The head of State made these statements at the La Chopera sports center, in the Madrid town of Villamanta, where, accompanied by Queen Letizia, he expressed his closeness and affection to the people evacuated due to the fire. Also present during the visit were the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the third vice president and minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, and the chief general of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), Francisco Javier Marcos.
Felipe VI has remarked that Villamanta is "the example" of so many municipalities that "support and help" those who have had to leave their homes due to the fires, especially in the Community of Madrid and in the provinces of Ávila and Toledo.
The Kings have wanted to show their support and empathy with the displaced, who "have had a very hard time." "Some have already been out of their homes for four days. Some have lost many belongings. Overall, we have lost an incalculable natural heritage," said the monarch, who took the opportunity to recognize the work of all emergency services, whose actions he described as "spectacular, professional, dedicated, and suffering work," which should be "thanked and praised."
In this regard, the King insisted that "the coordination is being exemplary in every sense" and that this constitutes, in his opinion, "a good message."
"When we see that together we can face any risk, it is the best message for everyone," he emphasized, before highlighting the importance of "providing certainty that all possible human and material resources are being employed" to "mitigate the fight against the main enemy, which is the fires."
Thinking about "enhancing" the European Mechanism
In this context, Felipe VI also thanked the support of the countries that have offered and deployed human and material resources through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, an instrument that, in his opinion, "is functioning and possibly needs to be thought about enhancing even more." "We are experiencing a risk and fire situation in France simultaneously, so we need to reflect," he pointed out.
The monarch has taken the opportunity to ask the population to "follow the authorities' instructions" and collaborate "as much as possible" to contribute, "within our scope of responsibility," to ensure that "the emergency lasts as little as possible and is resolved with the least possible damage."
Felipe VI has also referred to the convenience of "reflecting on the future" about "what can be done better and what can be done during the emergency itself," as well as regarding the "times in which means and the environment can be prepared so that the damages from any fire that will occur are the least possible."
"That involves many instances, many people, experts, and citizens of all kinds. I believe that inviting that kind of reflection and a common and team effort, as we always say, is always necessary," he emphasized.
"Listening to them attentively is important"
Queen Letizia has emphasized, for her part, the relevance of listening "attentively" to the neighbors and the "certainty" with which they describe the anguish, the uncertainty, and those questions that hang in the air" about when they will be able to return or in what state they will find their homes.
"And, above all, that question of what needs to be done so that this does not happen again," the Queen added, who explained that the evacuees have also conveyed their gratitude for the attention and care they are receiving during these days.