At least 12 people were killed as a wildfire roared through a remote expat community in Los Gallardos, in southern Spain, overnight. Victims tried to flee the flames in cars and on foot, authorities said Friday. Eight people were injured, and 23 went missing, Andalusia’s regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said.
The blaze, one of , broke out late Thursday in a semi-arid area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province, as the country has been dealing with soaring temperatures, the Associated Press reported.
Quick answers to key questions
What led to the recent deadly wildfire in Los Gallardos, Spain?⌵
The wildfire in Los Gallardos is believed to have been sparked by a fallen power line, which quickly escalated in the dry conditions and strong winds prevalent in the area.
Why did many victims choose to flee the wildfire instead of sheltering in place?⌵
Many residents panicked as thick smoke reduced visibility and flames approached their homes, choosing to flee rather than follow the advisory to shelter in place, which contributed to the high casualty rate.
How did the terrain and climate contribute to the spread of the wildfire?⌵
The steep, dry terrain and extremely dry vegetation due to ongoing heat waves created ideal conditions for the wildfire to spread rapidly, making firefighting efforts particularly challenging.
Should residents follow emergency evacuation instructions during wildfires?⌵
Yes, residents should always follow official instructions during wildfires, as ignoring these can lead to tragic outcomes, as seen in this incident where many victims died fleeing instead of sheltering.
What has been the impact of climate change on wildfires in Spain?⌵
Climate change has been linked to rising temperatures and increasing frequency of heatwaves in Spain, creating conditions that contribute significantly to the severity and frequency of wildfires.
As the , panicked residents in rural Andalusian villages around Los Gallardos faced an impossible choice — shelter in place and endure the choking smoke, or take their chances and flee.
‘Death trap’
Most of the victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions, said Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services. Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that “turned into a death trap,” he said.
Four victims were believed to bebecause the steering wheel of their burned-out car was on the right side, as with British vehicles, regional authorities said.
Other unspecified nationals also were believed to be among the dead, and the death toll was expected to rise, authorities were quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
Seven people died while on foot after abandoning their cars, Sanz said, adding that most of the deceased were believed to be foreign nationals.
Dean Taylor, a resident who divides his time between Spain and the UK, said he managed to just barely escape the neighbourhood by using back roads to get out.
“It was quite terrifying,” Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It’s a very sad day, isn’t it? It’s devastating, really.”
The fire was still burning as of Friday afternoon.
Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which had consumed more than 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland, the report added.
Challenges
Moreno, the Andalusian regional leader, said containing the fire was difficult because of the steep, dry terrain.
“It consists mainly of scrubland and esparto grass,” Moreno said. “Everything is extremely dry due to the heat waves, making it the perfect fuel; combined with the wind, it’s a ticking time bomb,” he added.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences. “Immense sadness and desolation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria,” he wrote on X.
Spain heatwave
and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 C (104 F). Wind, high temperatures and little rainfall help small wildfires grow into unchecked blazes.
In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
Spain is no stranger to wildfires, with last year’s fire season burning more than 393,000 hectares (almost 1,520 square miles), according to the European Forest Fire Information System, an area twice as large as London. Four people died.
was in 1979 when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona.
In 2017, a wildfire in neighbouring Portugal left 66 people dead in Pedrogao Grande, located 200 kilometres (120 miles) northeast of Lisbon. In that blaze, 47 people died on one road while similarly attempting to flee in their cars
