Emergency services and firefighting teams in Spain have launched a major operation to contain a devastating wildfire in Almeria, located in the Andalusia region. As strong winds continue to fuel the blaze and prevent it from being fully brought under control, residents from newly threatened areas have been evacuated.
Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, said the wildfire remains in a highly dangerous condition. Although the fire continues to spread in several areas, firefighters have made significant progress. Their top priority is preventing the flames from crossing the highway and reaching densely populated coastal areas.
Sanz said the initial focus was on slowing the fire’s advance and preventing further spread. With the situation now somewhat stabilized, firefighters have been able to launch direct operations against the main sources of the blaze.
Strong winds on Friday made the wildfire even more destructive. As the flames spread rapidly, many residents were forced to leave their homes and seek safer locations.
So far, 12 bodies have been recovered from the affected area. The remains were found in a forested area near the town of Bédar.
The identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed. Authorities have launched forensic procedures to identify them. Samples collected by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Almeria have been sent to Madrid, where they will be compared with DNA samples provided by relatives.
Initial investigations suggest that most of the victims may be foreign nationals, with British and Belgian citizens believed to make up a significant portion of those killed. A Spanish national is also among the victims. Meanwhile, four of the eight injured people are reported to be in critical condition.
Officials said seven people have so far been officially reported missing. Earlier reports had suggested that 23 people were missing, but authorities have not yet confirmed whether the death toll could rise further.
Extensive resources have been deployed to combat the wildfire. More than 500 firefighters, emergency service personnel and military members are working to bring the blaze under control. A specialized team from the National Firefighting Brigade is also participating in the operation.
According to emergency services, around 6,600 hectares of land have been affected by the fire so far. The western section of the affected area has experienced the most intense flames.
Local authorities said approximately 1,400 people had been evacuated to safety by Friday night. Residents of Bédar and several nearby areas were also moved to safer locations as a precautionary measure.
According to the Andalusia regional government, the wildfire spread at an extremely rapid pace. The flames covered an area of nearly 15 kilometers within just two hours.
Local residents said the situation became dangerous so quickly that many people were caught off guard. Victor Manuel Fernández, a priest from Bédar and Los Gallardos, said he initially did not realize the seriousness of the situation after seeing smoke in the distance.
He said that after finishing an event and going outside, he saw thick black smoke covering the area. Looking toward the hills, he noticed the fire spreading rapidly and the situation becoming uncontrollable within minutes.
Source: Reuters