The eastern region of Almería, in Spain, is experiencing hours of hell due to the devastating fire that originated in Los Gallardos, which has already claimed the lives of at least 12 people and left eight injured, four of them in serious condition, who have been airlifted to the Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Seville.
According to the latest report by the Emergency Department, the deceased could all be foreigners, although identification efforts are still pending. Four of them were traveling in a vehicle when they were caught by the flames. They had decided to flee through a route not recommended by the authorities as an evacuation route. The municipality of Bédar was confined, which prevented further casualties, as reported by the Emergency Department's counselor, Antonio Sanz.
Initial investigations suggest that the victims found inside the vehicle had tried to escape the fire through a ravine, which turned into a trap. The car had the steering wheel on the right, indicating that they could be British citizens. There are seven other deceased individuals who lost their lives while trying to escape on foot after abandoning their vehicles when they were trapped by the flames and smoke.
The Emergency Department has set up an information point in the town of Garrucha to receive alerts about possible missing persons, amid fears that there may be other victims yet to be located. So far, the disappearance of 23 people has been reported, but until the identities of the bodies are confirmed, the exact number of victims cannot be determined.
The Los Gallardos fire is already the deadliest recorded in Andalusia.
"We knew it was going to be a difficult summer, but we could never have expected a fire of this magnitude," said the President of the Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, on Canal Sur Radio.
The President of the Regional Government is already heading to the area, where the smoke has thickened the sky, after postponing the inauguration of his government, which was scheduled for this morning.
Firefighters work on the Los Gallardos fire (Almería).Andalusian Emergency Services
The terrain is rugged, with many ravines and difficult access for heavy machinery. The weather forecast, with a southwest wind of up to 30 kilometers per hour, may hinder firefighting efforts, as the fire is currently not under control. The region has many scattered homes in an area with very dry vegetation due to the high temperatures in recent weeks. The fire reportedly started due to the fall of an electric pole, which quickly ignited flames that spread through the area. Approximately 3,150 hectares have already been burned.
At this time, the fire is advancing on two fronts: the right side is moving towards agricultural areas, while the left flank is the most active. All residents of Bédar are still confined or evacuated, as well as the hamlets of Almocáizar, El Chocolate, Los Collados, Fuente del Albarico, Los Pinos, and La Serena, as well as the tourist complex Miraflores.
Regarding the emergency response team working in the area, the Emergency Department reports that there are 464 personnel and 124 vehicles deployed, including resources from Infoca and 64 military personnel from the Emergency Military Unit (UME), with 12 fire engines and 2 water tankers.
The fire has shown very rapid evolution with high spread rates.
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, stated that she is in contact with the head of the Emergency Military Unit, who initially reported "an unfavorable evolution," emphasizing the importance of following evacuation instructions. She also highlighted the full solidarity from both Andalusia, the community, and the Military Unit in such dramatic circumstances.
The evacuation of Bédar faced serious logistical challenges from the start, as its main exit road was blocked by the fire, forcing many evacuees to be redirected to the town of Lubrín. There, nearly a hundred people are being accommodated and supplied thanks to the solidarity efforts of the City Council and local residents.
Currently, 122 people are relocated, and the fire situation is "complex." "There are many ravines, machinery couldn't access, the topography is very difficult," emphasized the counselor.
The traffic chaos caused by the fire and smoke has closed two vital routes for the province since Thursday: the A-7 motorway, closed to traffic in the increasing direction between kilometers 709 and 714, and the national road N-340A near the fire front.
It was precisely at kilometer 511 of the latter road where the disaster originated. The emergency service 112 received over 150 calls from citizens reporting the start of the fire.
According to witnesses in those initial reports, the fall of an electric cable sparked flames that rapidly spread to the forest, triggering an unprecedented tragedy in the province.