Four of the deceased, who according to initial investigations would be of British nationality, were found trapped inside a car after trying to flee the flames from one of the several farmhouses and scattered houses in the town of Bédar through an alternative path not indicated by the emergency services, choosing a ravine that ended up becoming a "real trap", as detailed by Sanz.
Some of the deceased were trapped in vehicles caught by the fire while trying to escape the area. This is one of the most serious fires in Andalusia in decades, as highlighted by Efe.
The Andalusian Minister of Presidency, Health, and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, has described the fire as "an unprecedented tragedy" and "the most consequential to date" in the region. According to him, the deceased "sought an alternative route to the one indicated" and fell into "a trap."
The current toll also includes eight injured, including a woman hospitalized with burns and another person affected by smoke inhalation.
Number of missing persons in the Los Gallardos fire rises to 23
The number of missing persons in the Los Gallardos fire has increased to 23. Reported by Teresa López Pavón.
The King and Queen "deeply saddened" by the Los Gallardos fire
The Royal Household has expressed their sorrow for the fatalities already caused by the Los Gallardos fire and have conveyed their "recognition" and "support" to the emergency services and all personnel involved.
UME deploys 200 soldiers with 70 vehicles in the Los Gallardos fire
The Emergency Military Unit (UME) has deployed 200 personnel with 70 vehicles of all types to assist in extinguishing the fire in Los Gallardos (Almería), which has already claimed the lives of at least 12 people.
At least 12 dead and 19 missing in the fire
The President of the Andalusian Government, Juanma Moreno, announced on Canal Sur Radio that there are 12 deceased at this time and 19 more people are missing. Reported by Teresa López Pavón in EL MUNDO.
Andalusia President Juanma Moreno suspends the inauguration of the new Government due to the fire
The President of the Andalusian Government, Juanma Moreno, has decided to suspend the inauguration ceremony of the new Andalusian Government, scheduled for this Friday at the Palacio de San Telmo, following the forest fire declared in the Almería town of Los Gallardos, which has so far resulted in eleven deaths and eight injuries, four of them serious.
The inauguration ceremony was scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m., followed by the new Executive, the first coalition between PP and Vox, planning to hold its first meeting to formally begin the drafting of the regional Budget Law for 2027.
The Mayor of Los Gallardos assures that the pain and uncertainty are immense in the area
From the Cultural Space of Los Gallardos, set up as an area to assist the affected, Francisco Miguel Reyes, Mayor of Los Gallardos, detailed in statements to TVE that the exact number of victims is still unknown and that there are at least eight injured persons.
"It is a fire that had not been seen before, very serious, affecting the area of Los Gallardos and especially the town and the municipality of Bédar," Reyes said, highlighting the deployment to assist those affected by the Local Police, healthcare professionals, and social services dispatched from different municipalities.
"We are experiencing a long and quite tough night, the worst part is that there are fatalities and that gives us a lot of sadness," continued the mayor, pointing out that hundreds of people have had to be relocated to different pavilions in towns like Garrucha or Mojácar.
Psychological support hotline set up for those affected by the Los Gallardos fire
Emergencies 112 Andalusia has set up a support phone line in the early hours of Friday for the families of those affected by the forest fire declared in the municipality of Los Gallardos, in the province of Almería.
The service, available through the number 677 904 624, is provided by the Group of Psychological Intervention in Emergencies and Disasters (GIPED) and offers emotional support and information to the families of the victims and those affected by the fire, which has already claimed the lives of twelve people.
Through this line, specialized psychologists provide assistance and guidance to help manage the situation.
Over 3,300 hectares burned in the Los Gallardos fire, in Almería
Currently, 3,150 hectares have been scorched and 464 personnel with 124 vehicles are working to try to control the fire, in addition to 150 Infoca firefighters with nine trucks and UME personnel.
At least 11 dead while trying to escape the flames through unmarked paths
The emergency management has confirmed the death of 11 people in a fire, although previously there was information about 12 fatalities. The Minister of Health, Presidency, and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, has described the "terrible fire" as "very complex, very fast, very rapid, in an area with many homes, in a forested area, and with a propagation speed that has been extremely high." "At this moment, efforts are ongoing to analyze if there may be more victims," he added.