Wildfire Kills at Least 11 in Southern Spain as Heatwave Continues

A wildfire near the village of Bédar in the municipality of Los Gallardos killed at least 11 people Friday, injured eight others, and left 19 unaccounted for, authorities said. The blaze broke out in a hamlet near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almería province and spread rapidly into surrounding forest. Callers who reported the fire said a fallen power line had sparked it.

Regional health minister Antonio Sanz told a press briefing that four of the dead appeared to be British because they were in a vehicle with a right-side steering wheel. Regional President Juanma Moreno said on a local radio show that the majority of those killed were foreigners and that identification was ongoing.

Sanz added that some victims died after choosing their own escape route instead of the recommended evacuation path and entered a dry riverbed that became a trap. Seven people died on foot after abandoning their cars.

Emergency services closed roads and evacuated about 1,000 residents. One hundred fifty firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit worked to contain the flames. The fire has burned nearly 7,800 acres and reached a highway, increasing danger for travelers. Authorities described the situation as very serious because of the area’s dense vegetation.

The Spanish Royal Family canceled a toast during a ceremony at the General Air and Space Academy in Murcia. King Felipe asked for a minute of silence for the victims during his speech. The crown royals issued a statement earlier Friday expressing sadness and condolences to the families of the deceased and gratitude to emergency workers.

>"We express our sadness and condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and to all those affected.