At least 12 dead as Spain wildfire nears control after burning 6,600 hectares in Almería
Firefighters aided by calmer winds and higher humidity are close to containing the fast-moving blaze that killed at least 12 people in southern Spain's Almería province, allowing 600 evacuated residents to return home.
A wildfire that broke out on Thursday in the Gallardos area of Almería province has killed at least 12 people, many of them foreign nationals, and burned some 6,600 hectares before improved weather conditions allowed firefighters to mount a direct attack on the flames on Saturday.
Fire's deadly path
The fire erupted on 9 July and, at its most intense, spread at a rate of 100 metres per minute across steep ravines. Victims were trapped in vehicles and on foot, and burned-out cars still lined roads in the area. Manoli Ramos, a councillor in the village of Bedar where victims were found, described the terror.
We were absolutely terrified. We could see the flames. It was horrific.
She contrasted it with a 2012 wildfire, saying this time it was "like hell". Authorities suspect the fire was ignited when a power cable broke amid scorching temperatures that exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.
Turning weather aids fight
On Saturday 11 July, calmer winds, higher humidity and a slight drop in temperatures enabled around 500 firefighters and more than 20 water-dropping aircraft to switch from defensive operations to a direct assault on the blaze. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos, who visited the area, said the fire did not spread at all that day and the burned perimeter stayed at 6,600 hectares.
The fire has not spread at all today. It is clearly a consequence of the climate emergency the world is facing.
Regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz noted that firefighters had stabilised much of the perimeter, allowing a cautious return to normality.
Evacuees return and search goes on
By late Saturday, about 600 of the nearly 1,500 people evacuated from the fire zone were allowed to go home. The Civil Guard had searched more than 250 houses to confirm nobody was left inside and planned one final sweep on Sunday. Austin Crilly, an 87-year-old British resident, recounted the moment police banged on his door.
They said, 'Take your money, take your cards and get out'.
Officials said the confirmed death toll remained at 12, while 23 people were still unlocated, although Antonio Sanz warned that the missing figure was misleading because many people who had been out of contact may already have reached safe centres.
Identification slowed by foreign victims
Authorities said many of the dead were of different nationalities and had ignored shelter-in-place instructions. Collecting DNA samples from relatives, some traveling from abroad, has complicated the identification process, so the final number of missing remains uncertain until autopsies are completed. Four Britons were believed to be among the victims, according to The Telegraph.
- Fire starts in Gallardos area, likely caused by a broken power cable in 40°C heat.
- Flames race at 100 m/min; 12 killed, many trapped in vehicles.
- Winds ease, humidity rises; firefighters launch direct attack for the first time.
- 600 of 1,500 evacuees return home; Civil Guard sweeps 250+ houses.
- Civil Guard carries out a last sweep to rule out further victims.
- Pedro Sanchez travels to the affected area.
Political response and next steps
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is due to visit the devastated area on 13 July. Virginia Barcones, the secretary-general for Civil Protection, told Spain's public broadcaster that the final sweep of the affected area would ensure no victims remain unaccounted for. Officials continued to caution that the number of missing people would not be clarified until forensic work was done.
