Andalucian Wildfire Deadliest In A Century Claims 12 Lives
This is the moment firefighters battle a fast-moving wildfire tearing across the countryside in a blaze that killed at least 12 people including several Britons feared to have died fleeing the flames in their car, according to authorities.
The footage was obtained from the Andalusian Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction Plan (Plan INFOCA) and shows the fire, described as the “worst ever” in Andalucia, around the town of Los Gallardos, in the Spanish province of Almeria, on 10th July.
The video shows crews working close to walls of flame as the blaze burns through parched countryside, fanned by winds gusting to 70 kph (43 mph).
The fire broke out on 9th July and by the following morning had scorched around 3,150 hectares (7,784 acres) in what local reports have described as the “worst ever” in the region.
Andalusia’s Regional Minister for Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, said 11 people had died and 19 remained unaccounted for, with eight injured, four of them seriously.
Four bodies were recovered from a right-hand-drive car near the mountain village of Bedar, and emergency services believe the victims were British residents or tourists, though formal identification is pending.
Seven others died on foot, from a group of nine who tried to flee the flames, with two survivors, Sanz said, adding that one victim appeared to be Spanish while others may have been of Belgian or British origin.
Sanz said many of the dead had taken evacuation routes not coordinated with emergency services.
He said: “There are no words for so much pain.
“It is terrible news and today the hearts of all Andalusians are in mourning.”
Andalusian President Juanma Moreno told Cadena SER radio the wildfire was “probably the fastest” he had ever seen in the region.
The blaze is thought to have been sparked by a fallen power line at kilometre 511 of the N-340A national road.
Around 1,000 people have been evacuated, including the entire town of Bedar and seven hamlets, plus the Miraflores tourist complex.
The A-7 motorway was briefly closed before reopening, while the N-340A remains shut in both directions.
The operation involves 464 personnel, 124 vehicles and 11 aircraft, including forest firefighters and 64 troops from the Military Emergencies Unit (UME).
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed “immense sadness and desolation” and offered condolences to the families.
