Key facts
- At least 12 people have died in a wildfire in Andalusia, southern Spain.
- Officials believe the majority of victims are foreign nationals.
- Four victims were found dead in a car, possibly British.
- Seven people died while fleeing on foot.
- Around 800 people were evacuated.
- Approximately 3,150 hectares of land have been burned.
At least 12 people have died in a fast-moving wildfire that swept through a tourist area in Andalusia, southern Spain. Officials believe the majority of the victims were foreign nationals, with four potentially being British citizens found deceased in a car. Seven other individuals died while attempting to escape the blaze on foot.
The fire, which broke out on Thursday in the Los Gallardos area, has destroyed forests and scrubland, forcing the evacuation of approximately 800 people, including nearly 200 who were moved to temporary shelters. Emergency services received over 150 calls reporting the fire, which spread rapidly through a region with difficult terrain.
Spain has been experiencing extreme heat and tinderbox conditions, contributing to the rapid spread of wildfires. Scientists link such extreme weather events to human-caused climate change. The head of the Andalusia regional government noted that four of the victims were traveling in a right-hand drive car, suggesting they were British.
Mayor Angel Francisco Collado of Bedar, a village popular with foreign residents and tourists, urged some residents to flee their homes. The Andalusia regional government stated that about 3,150 hectares (7,780 acres) of land have been scorched. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his devastation over the consequences of the wildfire, and the King and Queen observed a minute of silence for the victims.