Spain is reeling after a fast-moving wildfire killed at least 12 people in the south of the country, with officials saying most of the victims are believed to be foreign nationals.
The fire tore through the Los Gallardos area of Andalusia, trapping some people in cars and forcing others to flee on foot as flames spread rapidly across dry forests and scrubland. Authorities said 23 people were still missing, while emergency crews continued searching through the burned landscape, according to Euro News.
Andalusia’s emergency minister, Antonio Sanz, said the deaths appear to involve mostly or entirely foreign nationals. He said some victims had left designated evacuation routes and tried to escape through a river crossing, only to be caught in what he described as a deadly trap.
The blaze has been described as unusually fast and difficult to control. The region’s steep ravines and forested homes made the work of firefighters even harder. Around 500 firefighters, supported by Spain’s Military Emergency Unit, were deployed to contain the flames and search for survivors.
About 800 people were evacuated, including nearly 200 who were moved to temporary shelters. Officials warned that conditions could worsen if the wind changes direction.
Regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla said four of the victims were in a right-hand drive car and appeared to be British nationals. Seven others died while trying to escape on foot. Two more people were hospitalized with burn injuries, and other officials said several more were seriously hurt.
There is still no official confirmation of how the fire started, though witnesses said a fallen power line may have sparked the blaze. The fire sent thick smoke over roads and nearby villages, and emergency services received more than 150 calls for help.
The disaster comes as Spain suffers through an intense heatwave, with temperatures high enough to make the land dry and dangerous. Scientists say human-driven climate change is making such extreme heat and wildfire conditions more likely and more severe.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “deeply saddened and devastated” by the tragedy, while King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their daughters observed a minute of silence for the victims.
