Andalusia, July 10: A devastating wildfire sweeping through the Almeria province in southern Spain’s Andalusia region has claimed at least eleven lives, while nineteen people remain unaccounted for, regional authorities confirmed. The fast-moving blaze has torn through the municipalities of Los Gallardos, Bedar, and Antas, scorching roughly 3,150 hectares of land. Emergency teams continue to battle the flames under the threat of unpredictable, changing wind conditions.
The regional government stated that the disaster has displaced around 600 residents from their homes, with emergency crews executing overnight evacuations in several neighborhoods, including La Serena, Los Pinos, and Fuente del Albarico. To accommodate those forced to flee, local officials have turned theaters in Lubrin and Garrucha into makeshift shelters.
Medical teams have treated eight individuals for injuries resulting from the blaze. Four people who suffered minor burns and respiratory issues were assisted directly at the scene, while four others with severe burns and heavy smoke inhalation were rushed to a hospital, with officials weighing a transfer to a specialized unit in Seville. Andalusia’s President, Juanma Moreno, affirmed the gravity of the situation, declaring, “The consequences of the Los Gallardos are devastating. There are 19 people unaccounted for. At least 11 dead. And 8 injured, 4 of them seriously.”
While the main fire fronts have temporarily paused their advance, the Andalusian government has kept its specialized forest fire emergency plan active in Almeria due to the extreme ongoing risk. Antonio Sanz Cabello, Andalusia’s Minister of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies, maintained that public compliance with safety orders remains absolutely vital, asserting, “In an emergency, the authorities’ instructions are not recommendations: they are designed to protect lives.”
