A forest fire in Los Gallardos municipality, Almeria province, southern Spain's Andalusia region, has killed at least 12 people, broadcaster RTVE reported Thursday. The victims were discovered in a hamlet of the neighboring municipality of Bedar, with some found inside vehicles engulfed by flames, according to Andalusia's emergency services.
Unprecedented Tragedy in Andalusia
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia's acting minister for Health, the Presidency and Emergencies, described the blaze as “the fire with the greatest consequences to date” in the region and called it an “unprecedented tragedy.” Authorities raised the region's wildfire response plan to the emergency phase as the fire continued to spread.
Military and Road Closures
Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) deployed 150 personnel to reinforce firefighting efforts. The fire and heavy smoke forced the closure of two major roads in the province.
Second Wildfire in Malaga
Separately, around 1,000 people were evacuated as a precaution due to another forest fire that broke out Thursday afternoon in the southern province of Malaga. That fire remains active, with nearly 180 personnel continuing efforts to stabilize the blaze.
