Key facts
- A wildfire in Almería, Spain, has resulted in 11 fatalities.
- Some victims reportedly left a designated evacuation route to find their own escape.
- These individuals crossed a dry riverbed and were overtaken by flames.
- Four British nationals were among the deceased, found within a vehicle.
- The fire, believed to be caused by a fallen power line, has burned approximately 3,150 hectares.
A devastating wildfire in Almería, Spain, has claimed the lives of 11 people, with authorities investigating a critical decision by some victims to abandon a designated evacuation route. The fire, which began Thursday afternoon and is believed to have been caused by a fallen power line, has burned approximately 3,150 hectares.
According to regional minister Antonio Sanz, early investigations suggest that some of the deceased left their vehicles in an attempt to find an alternative escape route, ultimately crossing a dry riverbed where the rapidly advancing flames trapped them. Among the fatalities were four British nationals found inside a vehicle, and seven others who died while on foot.
The rugged terrain of the area, with limited road exits and steep ravines, has complicated both evacuation and firefighting efforts. While many residents safely followed the prescribed route out of Bédar, authorities instructed others to remain indoors due to the fire's proximity, a decision credited with preventing further loss of life.
Emergency response teams, including over 100 personnel from various agencies and 150 soldiers, are engaged in combating the blaze. Several roads, including the A-7 motorway, were temporarily closed. The disaster has been described as the deadliest wildfire ever recorded in Andalusia.