World

Chapinería evacuated due to forest fire: a couple among the last to leave the village

Herz — World Desk · 24 July 2026 at 20:37 · 30s summary · 2 min read

The essentials

On July 24, 2026, authorities in Spain's Community of Madrid ordered the evacuation of Chapinería, a village of 2,750 residents, due to a nearby forest fire, issuing an alert on residents' mobile phones. Mohamed Chara, a 63-year-old Moroccan chef who has lived in Spain for 35 years, and his wife Asia Bakuri were among the last inhabitants to leave, stopped by the Guardia Civil. The fire was burning near Navas del Rey. The couple had to leave behind their cat Mili, unable to be found, with her bowls filled with food and water by the door.

Chapinería (2,750 residents) evacuated on July 24, 2026 due to nearby forest fire
Alert sent to residents' mobile phones ordering immediate village evacuation
Couple among the last to leave, compelled to depart by Guardia Civil officers
Fire burning near Navas del Rey in Spain's Community of Madrid
Couple left their cat Mili behind with filled bowls of food and water

Illustration image — Tilo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

What we know

On July 24, 2026, authorities in Spain's Community of Madrid ordered the evacuation of Chapinería, a village of 2,750 residents, due to a nearby forest fire, according to El País. An alert was sent directly to residents' mobile phones.

Due to the spread of fires in Spain's Community of Madrid, residents of Chapinería must evacuate the municipality immediately.
— Official alert message sent to Chapinería residents, July 24, 2026

The fire was burning near Navas del Rey, threatening Spain's Community of Madrid. The Guardia Civil—a Spanish law enforcement force with military status, founded in 1844—was posted at the village entrance and would not allow anyone to enter.

The last to leave Chapinería

Mohamed Chara, a 63-year-old Moroccan chef who arrived in Spain 35 years ago, and his wife Asia Bakuri, married for 35 years, were among the last residents to leave the village.

Officers stopped the couple at the village entrance and ordered them to leave immediately.

Their cat Mili, missing during the evacuation, had to be left behind. The couple filled her bowls with water and food and left them by the door before departing.

An evacuation under difficult circumstances

Mohamed Chara was diagnosed with bone cancer over the past year and is recovering from surgery.

The couple planned to stay with relatives in Guadalix de la Sierra. They planned to stop in Villaviciosa de Odón, where one of their four sons, a mechanic, was to pick them up.

Mohamed Chara shared that he supported Spain during the World Cup and was pleased by Spain's victory in the final. He also followed all of Morocco's matches.

What remains uncertain

No date has been provided for when residents of Chapinería will be allowed to return home. The exact extent of the fire and any possible damage have not been specified in available information.

The fate of the cat Mili, left in the evacuated village, remains unknown.

Why was Chapinería evacuated on July 24, 2026?

A forest fire broke out near the village, close to Navas del Rey in Spain's Community of Madrid. Authorities ordered the evacuation of all 2,750 residents and sent an alert to their mobile phones.

What is the Guardia Civil?

The Guardia Civil is a Spanish law enforcement force with military status, founded in 1844. It is also known as 'la Benemérita'. The Guardia Civil was posted at Chapinería's entrance on the day of evacuation.