A fast-moving wildfire tore through a tourist area in Andalusia, southern Spain, killing at least 11 people and leaving 19 others missing. The blaze trapped motorists in burning vehicles or as they tried to flee on foot, authorities said on Friday.
Victims believed to be foreign nationals
Many of the victims were believed to be foreign nationals, according to local officials. The head of the Andalusia regional government, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, said four of the victims were traveling in a right-hand drive car. "They appear to have been British nationals and were burned to death inside the car," he told Spanish radio.
The fire broke out on Thursday in the Los Gallardos area, destroying forests and swathes of scrubland. Around 800 people were evacuated, including nearly 200 to temporary shelters.
Extreme heat fuels tinderbox conditions
Spain has been sweltering in extreme heat, creating tinderbox conditions favorable for the rapid spread of wildfires. Scientists agree that climate change caused by humans burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves more likely and more intense.
Around 500 firefighters, backed by Spain's Military Emergency Unit, battled to contain the flames and search for victims. AFP reporters saw firefighters battling to douse the flames sweeping across the parched countryside, sending plumes of white smoke into the air.
King Felipe VI observes minute of silence
Spain's head of state King Felipe VI, his wife Queen Letizia and their two daughters observed a minute of silence for the victims of the wildfire, one of the country's worst in recent years. Officials have warned that conditions could worsen if winds shifted.
Bedar village popular with foreigners
There was no immediate confirmation of the identities of those who died, but the authorities said many of the victims may be foreigners who were in Bedar, a small whitewashed village in Los Gallardos district. Located about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Spain's Mediterranean coast, Bedar is popular with foreign residents and tourists seeking a quieter alternative to the nearby beach resorts.
Bedar mayor Angel Francisco Collado said he urged some residents to flee their homes, "even those who did not want to leave."
