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Devastating Wildfire in Spain Contained; Evacuees Allowed Home
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Disasters & Emergencies

Devastating Wildfire in Spain Contained; Evacuees Allowed Home

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A devastating wildfire in Spain's Almería province has been contained, allowing some evacuated residents to return home.
  • The fire spread with extreme speed, reaching up to 100 meters per minute, and has been described as one of the most destructive in modern Spanish history.
  • Authorities have confirmed 12 fatalities, with the number of missing persons still uncertain as investigations continue.

A destructive wildfire that raged through Spain's Almería province has been brought under control, offering a glimmer of hope to thousands displaced by the blaze. While some 600 residents evacuated from the fire zone were permitted to return late Saturday, another 1,000 are awaiting phased returns as authorities work to secure the area.

The fire has been limited to its perimeter and contained, so there is no longer a risk of flames spreading.

— Juan Manuel MorenoHead of the Andalusian regional government, announcing the containment of the wildfire.

"The fire has been limited to its perimeter and contained, so there is no longer a risk of flames spreading," stated Juan Manuel Moreno, head of the Andalusian regional government. He described the situation as "the beginning of the end of a frightening forest fire that broke speed records for spreading," highlighting the extreme nature of the event.

This is the beginning of the end of a frightening forest fire that broke speed records for spreading, so to speak.

— Juan Manuel MorenoDescribing the severity and rapid spread of the wildfire.

The fire's rapid progression, reportedly reaching speeds of up to 100 meters per minute, left a trail of devastation. "This is a completely devastated area," said James Shellingford, a 60-year-old Briton living in the small village of Bédar, which was directly impacted. "We are very sorry for the people who lost their homes and those people and families who lost their lives."

This is a completely devastated area. We are very sorry for the people who lost their homes and those people and families who lost their lives.

— James ShellingfordA resident describing the impact of the fire on his village.

Authorities have confirmed 12 deaths, with victims found trapped in vehicles or attempting to flee on foot. The exact number of missing persons remains unclear pending autopsies and identification processes, and officials warn many victims could be foreign nationals. The fire, believed to have started Thursday during an extreme heatwave, is considered one of the deadliest in recent Spanish history. Firefighters were able to directly combat the flames on Saturday due to calmer winds and increased humidity, a crucial shift after days of uncontrolled spread.

I told my wife, 'Quickly run out, leave everything. Run out,' and in the time I said those words, I was engulfed in a ball of fire.

— Jerome NavarroA survivor recounting his escape from the fire.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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