In southern Spain, in the province of Almería, a wildfire has claimed the lives of at least 12 people. The fire spread 15 km in two hours, hampering the evacuation.
- Twelve people have died in a forest fire in the province of Almería.
- 23 people are reported missing.
- The fire spread over 15 km in two hours.
- Most of the victims were foreigners.
- The fire season in Spain has started earlier than usual due to the heat.
A major tragedy in Almería
In southern Spain, near the town of Los Gallardos in the province of Almería, one of the most tragic forest fires in the country’s modern history took place. The fire, which spread with extraordinary speed, claimed the lives of at least 12 people. A further 23 people are currently listed as missing. According to the head of the Andalusian emergency services Antonio Sansa, most of the victims were foreign nationals who had attempted to leave the danger zone on their own, ignoring advice to remain in shelters.
The tragic circumstances of the death
Some of the victims were trapped in their cars whilst trying to escape the fire. Four people died in one car, whilst others left their vehicles and tried to flee on foot, but were unable to save themselves. The fire damaged many of the bodies so severely that DNA testing will be required to identify them. The missing may also include tourists and hikers who were caught in the fire whilst in the mountainous, forested area.
The fire spread at an incredible speed
President of Andalusia Juan Manuel Moreno He noted that the fire was spreading «like wildfire», covering around 15 kilometres in two hours. This significantly complicated the evacuation of residents and the work of the emergency services. According to preliminary reports, the fire may have been caused by a broken electrical cable, although the energy company Endesa claims that the line was not live.
An early start to the fire season
This year, Spain has faced an early start to the forest fire season due to a series of powerful heatwaves heatwave and a prolonged drought. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), around 57,000 hectares have already been burnt in Spain, accounting for approximately 40% of the total forest area destroyed by fire in the European Union. The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the tragedy as a major blow to the country.
