A British national died in a Spanish wildfire while speaking by phone to his wife, as authorities continue efforts to identify the 12 confirmed victims of the blaze. The man was trapped in his car with cats when the flames engulfed the vehicle, according to a friend who spoke with the victim's wife.
The wildfires in southern Spain have forced hundreds to evacuate and have claimed at least 12 lives, with officials cautioning that the number of missing persons remains uncertain pending identification processes. Authorities believe many of the victims were foreign nationals, with British and Belgian citizens among those feared dead.
The identification of victims has been complicated by the difficulty in collecting DNA samples from relatives, many of whom are traveling from other countries. Spanish authorities stated that the deaths occurred among individuals who may have ignored official advice to shelter in place. However, the son of one Belgian victim disputed this, claiming no guidance was provided to residents in his father's area.
"The people who died did not fail to follow any orders because no orders were given. No information was provided," said Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt, whose father, Stanislas Verdonckt, was among the dead. He stated that his father and neighbors only attempted to flee when the fire was imminent.
Local officials, including the mayor of Bedar, have stated that residents were advised to shelter in place or evacuate depending on the fire's progression. The regional government and Civil Guard police were involved in rescue efforts and did not immediately comment on Verdonckt's account.
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The wildfire, which burned approximately 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres), has now been stabilized, according to the head of the Andalusian regional government. The approximately 1,000 remaining evacuees are expected to be allowed to return home. Burned-out vehicles were still visible along roads where individuals were trapped by the fast-moving flames.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the affected area. The Civil Guard conducted a final sweep of the area on Sunday to ensure no victims were unaccounted for after having already searched over 250 homes.
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