Key facts
- The son of a Belgian victim disputes Spanish authorities' claims about wildfire warnings.
- He states his father and other victims received no guidance to shelter or evacuate.
- Victims reportedly only fled when flames were imminent.
- Authorities maintain that residents were contacted with instructions.
- Twelve people died attempting to escape the wildfire in Bedar.
The son of a Belgian man who died in a wildfire in Spain's Almeria province has disputed official accounts that victims ignored advice to shelter in place. Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt stated that his father, Stanislas Verdonckt, and other residents received no guidance from emergency services regarding the approaching blaze.
Verdonckt, who lives in Belgium, traveled to Spain after the fire and spoke with neighbors. He told Reuters that the victims did not fail to follow orders because no orders were given, and no information was provided about the fire's direction. He said they only began to flee when the flames were nearly upon them.
Authorities, however, have claimed that local officials and police went door-to-door or telephoned residents with instructions to evacuate safely or shelter in place, depending on the fire's progression. Bedar Mayor Angel Collado stated he urged the group, including Stanislas Verdonckt, to shelter in place.
Stanislas Verdonckt was among eight victims found in a valley below the Paraje el Curato area where he lived. In total, 12 people, primarily foreigners, died trying to escape the wildfire as it reached Bedar. Their identities have not been officially confirmed, and firefighters are still working to contain the blazes.
According to his son, the group including his father first attempted to drive away on Thursday night but were forced back by flames. They then tried to flee in another direction on a dead-end dirt lane, but abandoned their cars and sought to escape on foot when that route also became engulfed. During their final phone call, Stanislas Verdonckt was discussing his options before they were trapped by the fire.