At least 12 people have died after a wildfire started Thursday afternoon in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, regional officials confirmed Friday. The fire began in the province of Almeria, spreading from the municipality of Los Gallardos to the neighboring area of Bedar, fueled by strong winds.
Emergency services located several of the deceased inside vehicles, according to local authorities, who stated the individuals were apparently attempting to leave a rural area. Search operations are ongoing, as officials reported a number of people remain unaccounted for.
Andalusia’s regional leader, Juanma Moreno, told Cadena Ser radio on Friday that 19 people were still missing, the Reuters news agency reported.
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s acting minister for emergencies, called the fire “an unprecedented tragedy” and “the most devastating fire to date in our region.” In a statement, Sanz said, “The pain is immense. Andalusia is in mourning, and our hearts go out to AlmerÃa and all those affected.”
In addition to the fatalities, regional authorities reported that six other people were injured. One woman was hospitalized with severe burns, and another individual was treated for smoke inhalation. Four others received medical attention at the scene for minor injuries. Approximately 50 evacuated residents have been provided shelter at a local cultural center.
More than 300 emergency personnel are responding to the incident, including a specialized deployment of 150 members of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME). The fire’s heavy smoke prompted regional traffic authorities to close two highways in the area, the N-340 and the AP-7.
The cause of the fire is under official investigation. Local media outlets have reported that a downed power line is being examined as a potential origin, but authorities have not publicly confirmed this information.
In a post on social media, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the mobilization of emergency services and the military unit to assist with the response. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed wishes for a quick recovery for the injured.
The event follows periods of high temperatures across Western Europe in May and June, which have resulted in dry conditions. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Europe is warming at more than twice the global average.
