At least 11 people died in a wildfire that erupted in Almeria, Spain, with four of the victims identified as British nationals. Survivors described harrowing escapes through flames as the blaze rapidly consumed the dry landscape, trapping entire families in their vehicles.
The fire, which witnesses suggest may have started after a power line fell, ignited dry vegetation and spread quickly. Residents of Bedar were advised to evacuate or shelter in place, but some who chose alternative routes found themselves trapped.
One woman, identified only as Sonia from Los Gallardos, recounted her experience evacuating with relatives. She stated that the primary route out of Bedar was blocked by the fire, forcing them to take a back road further into the mountains before attempting to return towards the coast. "The road from Bédar to Los Gallardos was blocked, since the fire had crossed the road and it was impassable," she told EFE news agency.
Another evacuee described the tragic scene: "Many English people, Germans, and other neighbours were caught off guard by the fire as they fled. They saw the flames, tried to escape, some took alternative routes... Entire families have been burned alive inside their cars."
Officials confirmed that four victims were found dead inside one vehicle, believed to be British. Seven others died after apparently abandoning their cars to flee on foot. Ten of the victims were foreign nationals, and one Spaniard was confirmed dead. Antonio Sanz, head of emergencies in the Andalusia region, noted that an alternative route chosen by some residents proved to be a "trap."
The wildfire has burned an estimated 3,150 hectares, with difficult terrain hindering firefighting efforts. Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) joined hundreds of firefighters and vehicles in battling the complex blaze. The fire situation is described as complicated due to the ravine's topography and lack of access points.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his devastation over the "terrible consequences of the wildfire." The head of the regional government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, called the blaze a "tragedy."
The region has been experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures often exceeding 40C, creating conditions conducive to major wildfires. Last year, Spain recorded its third-warmest year on record, with an unprecedented area of land consumed by wildfires.
Authorities are working to identify the deceased and locate those who are still unaccounted for, with approximately 23 people still missing. Emergency services and the Red Cross have been inundated with calls from anxious relatives, particularly from the large foreign population in the affected area, seeking information about their loved ones.