Spain's Christmas lottery has been welcomed as an 'injection of hope' in the northwest of the country, where the jackpot handed out hundreds of millions of euros just months after wildfires had caused devastation.
Most of the first-prize-winning tickets in the lottery, known as El Gordo, had been purchased by residents in small towns across the province of León. A single ticket, or décimo, priced at €20 (£17), is worth €400,000 (£349,484) if it bears the winning number, in this case, 79432. When many strips of the same number are sold to individuals, there is potential for massive jackpots.
Residents of La Bañeza shared out a staggering €468 million (£409 million) among themselves. Among these fortunate winners were members of a local football club, adding to the jubilant atmosphere that enveloped the town.
The jackpot was awarded just four months after forest fires devastated León, burning 8,000 hectares (31 square miles) of land and claiming the life of a local 35-year-old man named Abel Ramos.
The northwest of Spain has always faced challenges from wildfires, but this year recorded unprecedented devastation, with significant efforts from firefighters throughout August and summer. The fires destroyed 0.8% of the country's total surface area that year.
According to La Bañeza's mayor, Javier Carrera, the lottery win represents 'an injection of excitement and hope.' This comes in light of the recent closure of a local sugar-beet factory, which resulted in job losses for many families in the area.
In a nearby town, Villablino, which also faced severe fire damage in the summer, locals shared a massive €200 million (£175 million) jackpot. Mayor Mario Rivas expressed the community's need for good news amid tragedies, including mining accidents that claimed additional lives.
This Christmas lottery win is a remarkable story of hope and recovery, highlighting the resilience of communities in the face of adversity.
