In the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, forest fires have tragically claimed the lives of at least twelve people. The regional Health Minister, Antonio Sanz, confirmed on Saturday that the disaster was unfolding.
The blaze broke out in the community of Los Gallardos, located in Almeria province, roughly 300 kilometers northeast of Malaga. The casualties included four individuals who were trapped and burned in their vehicles, as well as seven others found deceased, who were presumed to have attempted to escape on foot. Authorities are still working to identify the deceased.
One suspected cause of the fires is a snapped electrical cable that fell into the dry vegetation. Rescue teams received over 150 calls from citizens reporting the fire. According to witnesses, a fallen cable triggered the incident, although officials have yet to confirm these reports definitively. Furthermore, a mandatory alert via the mobile network, which could have warned residents in the affected area, was not activated. Experts advised against this measure, explaining officially that simultaneous warnings would have been technically unfeasible.
In the operation, more than 1,400 people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, which also included emptying a nearby campsite that had remained spared by the flames so far. More than 460 personnel, including firefighters, forest specialists, and the Spanish military’s disaster relief unit, are currently battling the fire, which has rapidly spread across nearly 4,000 hectares.
The regional Health Minister described the situation as a “unprecedented tragedy.” King Felipe VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez both offered their condolences and gratitude to the emergency responders.
