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 bought by people in small towns in the province of León. A single ticket, or décimo, costing 20 euros, is worth 400,000 euros if it bears the winning number, in this case 79432. Décimos come in strips of 10 and when many strips of the same number are sold to a group of neighbours or workmates, there is potential for a massive jackpot.
The town of La Bañeza shared out 468 million euros, celebrating the monumental win just four months after wildfires devastated the region, burning 8,000 hectares of land and claiming lives.
Among the recipients were members of a local football club in the town, which has a population of around 11,000. The mayor, Javier Carrera, stated that the lottery win represented an injection of excitement and hope for the community, especially following the closure of the local sugar-beet factory earlier this year.
Another town in the León province that was heavily affected by the summer's fires, Villablino, also took a massive share of the jackpot, receiving 200 million euros. Mayor Mario Rivas commented on the need for good news in light of recent tragedies, including the loss of five local men in mining accidents.
In addition to the funds distributed in León, 64 million euros went to a working-class district in Madrid, providing vital assistance to numerous neighborhoods in need.
Winners like Maribel Martín expressed her relief, stating, We were really down and 200 million euros is a wonderful thing, adding her plans to spread the wealth and enjoy life.
