In Spain, at least 12 people have died and 23 remain missing while attempting to escape a wildfire in the southern part of the country. This was reported on July 10 by Reuters, citing official sources.
“Among the victims was one Spaniard, while the rest were apparently foreign nationals who ignored instructions to stay in shelter, said Antonio Sanz, head of emergency services in the Andalusia region,” the agency reports.
It is noted that the deceased tried to flee the fire in their vehicles but were still overtaken by the flames, which rapidly swept through the wooded area around the town of Los Gallardos in the province of Almería. Many of the victims have not yet been identified, and their identification will be carried out using DNA testing.
“Four people died in one car, who appeared to be British, as the steering wheel was on the right side. Another eight individuals were found dead after apparently abandoning their vehicles and attempting to escape on foot along a route not included in the evacuation plan,” the publication states.
The fire in Spain became known earlier that same day. The head of the regional health ministry, Antonio Sanz Cabello, described the event as the most destructive fire in the region to date and characterized the situation as an “unprecedented tragedy.” At the beginning of the week, the evacuation of more than 10,000 people was also announced in southern France, in settlements located near the Spanish border.
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