MADRID — A fast-moving wildfire tore through a rural expatriate community in Spain's southern Almería province, killing at least 12 people and leaving dozens of others unaccounted for as firefighters continued battling the blaze, regional authorities said on Friday.
The fire broke out late on Thursday near the municipalities of Los Gallardos and Bédar in Andalusia during a period of extreme heat, strong winds and exceptionally dry conditions. Andalusian regional president Juan Manuel Moreno said at least 12 people had died, eight had been injured and 23 others were reported missing as emergency crews searched the affected area.
Authorities said many victims were caught while attempting to flee in vehicles or on foot as the flames spread rapidly through the area. Antonio Sanz, the head of Andalusia's emergency services, said several people ignored instructions to shelter in place, with some attempting to escape through a normally dry riverbed that became engulfed by the fire.
Regional officials said preliminary evidence suggested that many of those killed were foreign nationals. Four victims were believed to have been travelling in a right-hand-drive vehicle, indicating they may have been British, although authorities stressed that formal identification was still under way and nationalities had not been officially confirmed.
Hundreds of firefighters, supported by military emergency units and aircraft, remained deployed to contain the blaze, while evacuations were carried out in nearby communities. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as search operations continued and crews gained access to areas that remained inaccessible because of the fire.
Investigators were examining the cause of the wildfire. Witnesses initially reported that a fallen power line may have ignited the blaze after landing in tinder-dry vegetation, although authorities said the investigation remained ongoing and no official determination had been made.
Spain has experienced repeated heatwaves this summer, with high temperatures and prolonged drought creating dangerous wildfire conditions across much of the country. Fire experts said the combination of extreme heat, dry vegetation and strong winds allowed the flames to spread rapidly, while scientists have warned that climate change and accumulated vegetation have increased wildfire risks across southern Europe.
Emergency services said firefighting operations, victim identification and searches for those still missing would continue until the fire was brought under control.
