Wildfire in Southern Spain Feared to Be Worst on Record; 12 Dead, 7 Missing

As the death toll from a massive wildfire that engulfed the Andalusia region in southern Spain on July 9 (local time) continues to rise, local firefighting authorities are struggling to extinguish the remaining flames, according to Reuters and other foreign media outlets.

Juan Manuel Moreno, President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, stated on July 11 (local time) that the wildfire, considered the worst in history, has so far resulted in 12 deaths and 8 injuries.

Among the injured, 4 are in serious condition and are currently hospitalized in Seville.

The number of missing persons, initially reported as 23, has been reduced to 7 as the whereabouts of many have been confirmed.

Approximately 1,400 people have evacuated their homes to escape the fire, and the affected area is estimated to cover 6,600 hectares (66 square kilometers).

While the identities of the 12 deceased have not yet been confirmed following autopsies, authorities stated that most of them are British and Belgian nationals.

Authorities believe 4 of the victims were British, based on the fact that the steering wheel of the burnt-out vehicle in which they were found was on the right side.

The other 8 victims lost their lives while attempting to evacuate along a dry riverbed after abandoning their vehicles.

Authorities suspect that the riverbed turned into a "death trap" in an instant due to the rapidly spreading flames.

Andalusia emergency officials expressed deep sorrow, noting that most of the victims lost their lives because they did not follow instructions to "stay where they were" or failed to follow the evacuation routes provided by the authorities.

Officials in Bedar, the village where most of the victims lived, explained, "Immediately after the fire broke out, we went door-to-door to evacuate residents or instructed them to stay indoors depending on the fire situation at the time."

The village of Bedar was found to have suffered little damage from the wildfire.

"This type of wildfire can change direction in an instant depending on the wind," Moreno appealed. "Please, always follow the instructions of the authorities."

Although the major flames have been contained, Reuters reported that about 500 firefighters and rescue workers are deployed at the scene, struggling to fully extinguish the fire as it is still burning in some areas.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the fire site on July 13 to assess the damage and offer his condolences to the affected residents.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the wildfire, which broke out in a mountainous area near Los Gallardos in Andalusia amidst record-breaking heat, was caused by a severed power line near a nearby highway.

In recent years, Spain has seen an increase in large summer wildfires due to a combination of heatwaves, strong winds, and dry weather.

The deadliest wildfire in Spanish history occurred in 1979 in Lloret de Mar, a coastal city an hour north of Barcelona, which claimed 21 lives at the time.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.