A coordination meeting regarding security arrangements for the eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, took place this Monday. At the subsequent press conference, the Government Delegate for the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín, announced that, at the suggestion of the Civil Guard, he will request that the regional government implement a series of extraordinary measures to restrict access to certain natural areas on the day of the eclipse.
Specifically, the restrictions would affect access to the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park and the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park. Martín explained that, in addition to the restriction on cars—which is already provided for in the regulations—the intention is also to limit pedestrian movement, that is, access on foot outside of authorized observation points.
In addition, the extraordinary measures would also include restricting motorvehicle traffic on public forest lands and closing access to the Cotos and Navacerrada mountain passes once their parking lots are full (except for residents and workers in these municipalities), as is done during the snow season. It has been recommended that these restrictions remain in effect from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on August 12.
Martín clarified that, while these are the restrictions proposed by the delegation, the final decision rests with the Community of Madrid, which will determine the exact restrictions.
The Government Delegate also provided details regarding the scale of the security operation planned for the day of the eclipse. Approximately 1,700 members of the State Security Forces will be deployed : more than 1,000 Civil Guards and around 670 National Police officers. They will be joined by local police officers, Civil Protection volunteers, and personnel from security and emergency services.
Safety Recommendations for the Day of the Eclipse
Half a million trips are expected in the region on the day of the eclipse, especially to the Sierra Norte de Madrid (which lies within the path of totality). There, many official viewing sites are located near forested areas , and there are also concerns that many visitors will head into the mountains on their own.
The influx of thousands of people unaware of the precautions they should take in the natural environment on a day when there will be an “extreme risk” of wildfires is a cause of great concern for the residents of the Sierra Norte.
In this regard, the Government Delegate has assured that the protection of nature, in addition to public safety, is one of his “top priorities.” He has recommended, in addition to viewing the eclipse with approved eclipse glasses (and not driving while wearing them):
- Go to official viewing sites to prevent the “scattering” of spectators and facilitate the work of security personnel. In other words: avoid going off on your own.
- Do not use fire or fireworks.
- Do not park on the shoulders of the road and keep evacuation routes from observation pointsclear in case of a possible emergency.
It is also worth noting other recommendations issued by the AEMET, such as not parking on dry vegetation, avoiding overcrowding in fragile areas, not leaving trash behind, not disturbing local wildlife, and staying off private property or farmland.
Those planning to view the eclipse in the Community of Madrid (as in any part of Spain) should not only be concerned with protecting their eyesight but also with ensuring they do not harm the natural environment or compromise the safety of other visitors and local residents in the areas they visit. Any carelessness poses a risk.