María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal, the 87-year-old Spanish woman who was evicted from her Madrid home of 71 years, has died. She had become the face of the country's housing crisis. When she was forcefully removed from her apartment where she had lived since the age of 17, nearly 10,000 people turned up to stop it from happening. People protested against Urbagestión, an investment fund, that acquired her apartment in 2018.&nbsp;The Madrid Tenants’ Union confirmed to CNN and BBC in a statement that Abascal had died. It said that her situation marked "a turning point in the history of this country." Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote in an X post on October 7, "All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones. A hug to everyone today who feels this loss as our own. Rest in peace."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/10-000-gather-in-support-of-87-year-old-forcefully-evicted-from-home-of-71-years-1790330612775">10,000 gather in support of 87-year-old forcefully evicted from home of 71 years</a><h2>Abascal's rent had risen exorbitantly</h2>After Urbagestión acquired the building in 2018, the rent of her home increased from €500 ($572) to €2,650 ($3,014), before being lowered to €1,650 ($1,877). Abascal could not afford even the lowered rent since her monthly pension is €1,350 ($1,535). Her father had signed an old-style regulated tenancy agreement. It passed on to her mother after his death and then to her in 2005. She started renting it from Urbagestión in 2018.&nbsp;She entered a legal battle to stay in the apartment, and the case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled against Abascal in March 2026. After three attempts to remove her, she was forcefully carried out on a stretcher on September 23. She was given only 30 minutes to pack up. Several protesters thronged the building and were forcibly removed.&nbsp;Protesters shouted “Maricarmen, you’re not alone!” and “Murderers!” with nearly 10,000 people present on the street. Over the weekend after that, about 950,000 people participated in demonstrations across the country, according to estimates from Madrid’s Tenant Union.&nbsp;On September 28, her attorney, Beatriz Duro, announced with Urbagestión that they had reached a new agreement under which she would pay a similar amount of rent to her original fee for eight years. However, she passed away before she could return to her home.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The 87-year-old woman was forcibly removed from her apartment, where she had lived for 71 years. Her attorney reached a new agreement with Urbagestión on a new rent amount. However, she passed away before she could return home. 

María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal, the 87-year-old Spanish woman who was evicted from her Madrid home of 71 years, has died. She had become the face of the country's housing crisis. When she was forcefully removed from her apartment where she had lived since the age of 17, nearly 10,000 people turned up to stop it from happening. People protested against Urbagestión, an investment fund, that acquired her apartment in 2018. The Madrid Tenants’ Union confirmed to CNN and BBC in a statement that Abascal had died. It said that her situation marked "a turning point in the history of this country." Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote in an X post on October 7, "All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones. A hug to everyone today who feels this loss as our own. Rest in peace." Also Read: 10,000 gather in support of 87-year-old forcefully evicted from home of 71 years Abascal's rent had risen exorbitantly After Urbagestión acquired the building in 2018, the rent of her home increased from €500 ($572) to €2,650 ($3,014), before being lowered to €1,650 ($1,877). Abascal could not afford even the lowered rent since her monthly pension is €1,350 ($1,535). Her father had signed an old-style regulated tenancy agreement. It passed on to her mother after his death and then to her in 2005. She started renting it from Urbagestión in 2018. She entered a legal battle to stay in the apartment, and the case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled against Abascal in March 2026. After three attempts to remove her, she was forcefully carried out on a stretcher on September 23. She was given only 30 minutes to pack up. Several protesters thronged the building and were forcibly removed. Protesters shouted “Maricarmen, you’re not alone!” and “Murderers!” with nearly 10,000 people present on the street. Over the weekend after that, about 950,000 people participated in demonstrations across the country, according to estimates from Madrid’s Tenant Union. On September 28, her attorney, Beatriz Duro, announced with Urbagestión that they had reached a new agreement under which she would pay a similar amount of rent to her original fee for eight years. However, she passed away before she could return to her home.

The 87-year-old woman was forcibly removed from her apartment, where she had lived for 71 years. Her attorney reached a new agreement with Urbagestión on a new rent amount. However, she passed away before she could return home.&nbsp;

Spanish woman evicted from home of 71 years dies before she could return under new agreement

Deadly floods have struck parts of Spain after torrential rains triggered widespread flooding. Roads and communities have been inundated, while emergency teams continue rescue and relief operations. Authorities have issued weather warnings in affected areas as heavy rainfall persists. The latest flooding has caused deaths and significant disruption, with officials monitoring the situation closely.


Spain Floods: Torrential rains trigger widespread flooding across Barcelona 

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Madrid to protest Spain's handling of the Ceuta crisis, with many accusing the government of failing to address growing concerns linked to migration and border management. Protesters called for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to step down, arguing that the government's response has been inadequate. The demonstrations highlight the political tensions surrounding Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa that has become a focal point in Spain's migration debate.


Ceuta migrant crisis: Protesters take to streets as Spain grapples with migrant challenge

Nearly 10,000 people gathered in Madrid to protest the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from an apartment she had lived in for 71 years. María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal had been living in the Retiro neighbourhood since 1956. She was forcefully removed from her home on September 23. Spanish outlet El País reported that the apartment building had been acquired by the investment fund, Urbagestion. It increased the rent to unimaginable levels. From €500 ($572) it shot up to €2,650 ($3,014), before being lowered to €1,650 ($1,877). Abascal could not afford the new rent since her monthly pension is €1,350 ($1,535).&nbsp;She had moved into the apartment at the age of 17. Her father signed an old-style regulated tenancy agreement. Euronews reported that the apartment passed on to her mother after his death, and Abascal acquired it after her mother's death in 2005. But she started renting it from Urbagestion in 2018.&nbsp;“I’ve lived here for 71 years, and I don’t want to leave,” she told reporters on Tuesday (September 22), a day before she was evicted.&nbsp;The private landlord brought a case against Abascal's hold over the property, arguing that the contract’s timing was no longer applicable and her occupation of the apartment was invalid. Local outlet El Confidencial reported that in 2022, a lower court ruled in her favour. But in March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled against her.&nbsp;Spain is facing a rising affordable housing crisis which sees three evictions a day in the Madrid area. Abascal has had several people supporting her, but humanitarian appeals have failed as Urbagestion’s representatives refused to suspend the eviction. El Paid reported that public authorities were seeking alternative accommodation for her.&nbsp;Euronews reported that the eviction was postponed several times, first in October 2025 and twice in June. Even the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights called on the Spanish government to stop the eviction. However, Abascal was ultimately evicted. On the day of the eviction, she was given 30 minutes to pack her things. Nearly 10,000 protesters were present in the area and many of them thronged the building. They were forcefully removed from the doorway. Abascal was removed on a stretcher, put in an ambulance and taken away.&nbsp;“Maricarmen, you’re not alone!” and “Murderers!” chants filled the area. City Hall housing department said she was offered alternatives, but she rejected them all saying she would live with relatives. &nbsp;

The woman had lived in the same apartment for 71 years but the private landlord who bought the building sued her and forcefully removed her after several attempts. Nearly 10,000 people gathered in the neighbourhood on the night she was evicted.

Nearly 10,000 people gathered in Madrid to protest the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from an apartment she had lived in for 71 years. María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal had been living in the Retiro neighbourhood since 1956. She was forcefully removed from her home on September 23. Spanish outlet El País reported that the apartment building had been acquired by the investment fund, Urbagestion. It increased the rent to unimaginable levels. From €500 ($572) it shot up to €2,650 ($3,014), before being lowered to €1,650 ($1,877). Abascal could not afford the new rent since her monthly pension is €1,350 ($1,535). She had moved into the apartment at the age of 17. Her father signed an old-style regulated tenancy agreement. Euronews reported that the apartment passed on to her mother after his death, and Abascal acquired it after her mother's death in 2005. But she started renting it from Urbagestion in 2018. “I’ve lived here for 71 years, and I don’t want to leave,” she told reporters on Tuesday (September 22), a day before she was evicted. The private landlord brought a case against Abascal's hold over the property, arguing that the contract’s timing was no longer applicable and her occupation of the apartment was invalid. Local outlet El Confidencial reported that in 2022, a lower court ruled in her favour. But in March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled against her. Spain is facing a rising affordable housing crisis which sees three evictions a day in the Madrid area. Abascal has had several people supporting her, but humanitarian appeals have failed as Urbagestion’s representatives refused to suspend the eviction. El Paid reported that public authorities were seeking alternative accommodation for her. Euronews reported that the eviction was postponed several times, first in October 2025 and twice in June. Even the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights called on the Spanish government to stop the eviction. However, Abascal was ultimately evicted. On the day of the eviction, she was given 30 minutes to pack her things. Nearly 10,000 protesters were present in the area and many of them thronged the building. They were forcefully removed from the doorway. Abascal was removed on a stretcher, put in an ambulance and taken away. “Maricarmen, you’re not alone!” and “Murderers!” chants filled the area. City Hall housing department said she was offered alternatives, but she rejected them all saying she would live with relatives.

The woman had lived in the same apartment for 71 years but the private landlord who bought the building sued her and forcefully removed her after several attempts. Nearly 10,000 people gathered in the neighbourhood on the night she was evicted.

10,000 gather in support of 87-year-old forcefully evicted from home of 71 years

Deadly floods have struck parts of Spain after torrential rains triggered widespread flooding. Roads and communities have been inundated, while emergency teams continue rescue and relief operations. Authorities have issued weather warnings in affected areas as heavy rainfall persists. The latest flooding has caused deaths and significant disruption, with officials monitoring the situation closely.

Spain Floods: Deadly floods hit Spain as torrential rains trigger widespread flooding

A wildfire has ripped through forests in Spain’s Valencia region, sending flames across dry vegetation and threatening surrounding areas. Firefighters and emergency crews are working to contain the blaze as authorities monitor the situation. The wildfire comes amid heightened concerns over extreme heat, dry conditions and the growing risk of forest fires across parts of Spain.


Wildfire tears through forests in Spain's Valencia

Tensions erupted in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta as local residents clashed with police and confronted migrant encampments at El Trampolín beach. The unrest comes amid growing concerns over migrant arrivals and rising tensions in the enclave.

 Spain border crisis: Protesters charge into a crowded beach

Europe is battling a brutal summer of extreme heat and devastating wildfires. Belgium has recorded some of its worst fires in decades, while thousands have been evacuated across Spain and Greece. Reports estimate around 16,000 excess deaths linked to the heat, with economic losses potentially crossing €200 billion. From scorched forests to overwhelmed communities, Europe is facing a climate crisis with a staggering human and economic cost.


Europe burns under extreme heat: Wildfires, deaths & €200 billion losses 

Ceuta is facing a fresh migrant surge after Moroccan forces arrested 111 people, mostly sub-Saharan migrants, near Fnideq on August 15. Authorities reportedly used tear gas to disperse a crowd of around 300 people who were preparing to attempt a mass crossing into the Spanish enclave.

Spain border crisis: Morocco arrests 111 after fresh attempt to reach Ceuta

Europe's brutal 2026 fire season shows no signs of slowing. Wildfires have scorched 37,000 hectares in Spain, while crews in Bosnia battle to contain a vast forest fire of their own. Meanwhile, England is grappling with a historic drought, with dry conditions fueling blazes that have damaged properties across the country.


Europe burns: Wildfires rage in Spain and Bosnia; England battles historic drought

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced temporary checks on air and sea travel from Spain, citing a surge in irregular migration linked to crossings from Morocco into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta. The move tightens controls between the two Schengen-area countries and comes amid growing migration pressures across Europe.

Meloni calls for Spain's Schengen suspension

An unprecedented migration crisis unfolded at Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta as an estimated 72,000 migrants—primarily young men and unaccompanied minors—breached the border from Morocco in a massive, coordinated rush. Triggered by viral online disinformation and smuggler networks exploiting rumors about border policies, tens of thousands swam around breakwaters or crossed on foot, instantly overwhelming local reception facilities.

Spain migrant crisis: Migrants surge following viral social media posts

Spain is facing one of its most serious migration emergencies after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. Spanish authorities say at least 67 migrants died during the mass crossing, with many drowning at sea or being crushed near the border breakwater.

Officials estimate that around 50,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, while local authorities put the figure even higher. Most migrants have since returned voluntarily to Morocco, but the humanitarian and political fallout continues to grow.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a violation of Spain's territorial integrity and blamed human trafficking networks for spreading false hopes among migrants. Spain has also installed an inflatable sea barrier to strengthen border security.

Spain's Ceuta Migrant Crisis Deepens | 67 Dead As Tens Of Thousands Return To Morocco

About 60,000 migrants have invaded Spain’s Ceuta from Morocco in the past 24 hours. At least 41 migrants have died attempting the crossing. The situation has been described as 'absolutely unsustainable'. 
With serious questions and concern mounting, the ripple effects continue to spread.

Spain Migrant Crisis: At least 57 migrants dead during border crossing attempt 

Spain has deployed military personnel to Ceuta, its North African enclave, after an unprecedented surge of migrants crossed from Morocco, triggering one of Europe's biggest border crises in recent years.

According to reports, tens of thousands of migrants attempted to enter Ceuta by land and sea, while dozens reportedly lost their lives during the dangerous journey. Reception centers have become overwhelmed as authorities struggle to accommodate the growing number of arrivals.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has vowed to deploy all necessary resources while coordinating with Moroccan authorities to restore order. Meanwhile, Italy has called for Spain's suspension from the Schengen free-travel zone, arguing that Madrid's migration policies threaten European security—a claim Spain has rejected.

Political Tensions Grow Over Europe's Migration Policies | Wion 

Spain has deployed the military to restore order in Ceuta after thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave from Morocco. The surge has left at least nine people dead, prompting emergency reinforcements as authorities struggle to contain one of the region's biggest border crises in recent years.

Tensions grow over Europe's migration policies: Deadly sea crossings claim at least 18 lives 

Firefighters in Turkey are battling fast-moving wildfires fueled by strong winds, particularly in the southwestern Muğla Province near tourist hubs like Fethiye and Bodrum. The blazes have forced the precautionary evacuation of hundreds of residents, tourists, and a local hospital, while heavy smoke has temporarily closed major regional roads.

Europe Wildfires: Firefighters battle infernos in Turkiye 

Massive wildfires in southwest France have forced around 250,000 people to leave their homes as firefighters battle to contain the rapidly spreading flames. The blaze has moved closer to the Bordeaux region, raising concerns for communities, vineyards, and surrounding areas as emergency crews continue rescue and containment efforts.

Europe wildfires: Flames rage near Bordeaux and Madrid

Massive wildfires in southwest France have forced around 250,000 people to leave their homes as firefighters battle to contain the rapidly spreading flames. The blaze has moved closer to the Bordeaux region, raising concerns for communities, vineyards, and surrounding areas as emergency crews continue rescue and containment efforts.


France & Spain battle 'unpredictable' wildfires

Firefighters in France and Spain are racing to bring huge wildfires under control before another heatwave later this week that will complicate efforts to tame the flames. 


Quarter of a million people flee | Devastating destruction of Europe's wildfires

Europe is battling one of its worst wildfire emergencies in years as massive blazes continue to spread across Spain and France. More than 300,000 people have been evacuated, with Spain declaring a nationwide emergency and France carrying out one of its largest evacuation operations since World War II. 

France, Spain race to contain 'Monster Fires' | Entire towns emptied in Southwestern France

A devastating wildfire emergency is unfolding in southwestern France, where more than 250,000 people have been forced to evacuate as massive blazes continue to spread. Authorities say the fires have advanced to within 15 kilometres of Bordeaux, with strong winds accelerating the flames and prompting fresh evacuation orders. The crisis comes as parts of Spain are also battling major wildfires, raising concerns over a worsening fire season across Europe.


Spain: Fresh wildfires break out in Valencia 

Ferran Torres has become a household name overnight after scoring the winner in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Torres sported a cap with the text 'Make Spain great again' during the celebrations in Madrid.


Spain's world cup hero Torres wears cap inspired by Trump slogan

Spain has been crowned the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after a thrilling 1-0 extra-time victory over defending champions Argentina on July 19, 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain crowned World Champions after defeating Argentina in WC final

Spain's World Cup celebrations turned tragic after a 13-year-old boy was killed when a fountain partially collapsed in Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca province. The incident occurred as thousands celebrated Spain's victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final. Several others, including another child, were injured, prompting an emergency response as authorities launched an investigation into the collapse.

Spain: Fountain collapse leaves one dead, two injured in Spain

Spain were crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 1-0 victory over defending champions Argentina. In a tense final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026, substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time, securing Spain's second World Cup title.


FIFA world cup 2026: Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the world cup final

Spain is battling multiple devastating wildfires as scorching temperatures and strong winds fuel rapidly spreading blazes. Thousands of hectares have already been destroyed, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate while firefighters and aircraft continue working around the clock. Officials warn that extreme heat linked to climate change is making wildfires more intense and difficult to control.


Spain wildfires: Thousands of hectares of land burn, firefighters deployed


The FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race will be decided in the final as Kylian Mbappé leads the scoring charts after his brace against England in the third-place playoff. Lionel Messi now faces a daunting challenge, needing at least two goals against Spain to draw level and potentially win the Golden Boot on assists. The final could also reshape the all-time World Cup scoring record.

Mbappé one step away from historic Golden Boot record | Messi faces must-win scoring challenge

Bayern Munich's remarkable 44-year streak of having at least one player in every FIFA World Cup final has officially ended after Harry Kane's England and Michael Olise's France were eliminated. Meanwhile, Inter Milan continues its historic run with at least one representative set to feature in a 12th consecutive World Cup final, thanks to Argentina's Lautaro Martínez.


Bayern Munich's 44-year FIFA World Cup final streak ends as inter milan keeps historic run alive

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