12 die, 23 missing in Spain’s deadliest wildfire in years

International

THE flames arrived fast, trapping some victims in their vehicles and forcing others to flee on foot as a wildfire in southern Spain turned deadly, killing at least 12 people and leaving 23 others missing.

The blaze swept through a wooded area near Los Gallardos in Almería, where emergency teams are continuing searches while hundreds of firefighters work to contain the flames. Andalusia regional leader Juanma Moreno warned that the death toll could rise significantly.

“Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief,” Moreno posted on social media, as quoted by the BBC.

The victims’ bodies were found in and around the village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos. Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s health and emergencies minister, said the fire spread rapidly and was one of the most complex emergencies the region had faced. He added that the majority, or possibly all, of those killed may have been foreign nationals.

Four victims were found trapped inside a vehicle, while eight others were discovered elsewhere, apparently while attempting to escape the flames. Sanz said the four people in the car were believed to be “of British origin” and that the vehicle had a right-hand steering wheel.

The UK Foreign Office has contacted Spanish authorities, according to a Downing Street spokesperson cited by the PA news agency.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said consular officials were also working to locate Belgian citizens who could not be reached, noting that many Belgians have second homes in Spain.

Moreno said the fire appeared to have started after a power line pole collapsed, though the cause remains under investigation. He said those responsible for maintaining the equipment would be held accountable if negligence was found.

The claim was later disputed by electricity company Endesa, which said the fallen power line was inactive and did not belong to the company.

Sanz described the blaze as the “most devastating fire” Andalusia has ever seen and said some victims had attempted to escape using a route that was not part of the official evacuation plan.

Four people were hospitalized with serious burns, while another four suffered minor burns and respiratory problems caused by heavy smoke. The fire forced road closures and led to the evacuation of around 1,000 residents.

Spain’s Military Emergency Unit deployed 220 soldiers and 70 vehicles to support firefighting operations, while the civil guard sent 160 personnel to assist with evacuations, traffic control and efforts to determine how the blaze began.

Peter Chapman, who owns a holiday home with his wife Shelagh near Los Gallardos, said they initially mistook the thick smoke for a storm because the sky darkened so quickly. He described the scene as surreal and said it was devastating to think people had lost their lives while visiting the area for a holiday.

The wildfire struck during a summer of extreme heat across southern Europe, with temperatures reaching around 40C (104F) in parts of the region. Scientists have linked rising temperatures and prolonged heatwaves to worsening wildfire conditions, with experts warning that more frequent and severe fires are likely across Europe.(MyTVCebu)