Evacuees return home as deadly wildfire in southern Spain stabilizes

Residents displaced by a devastating wildfire in southern Spain have begun returning home following the stabilization of the blaze, which tragically resulted in 12 fatalities. The fire, primarily affecting the Almería province, swept through approximately 7,000 hectares at an alarming rate, reportedly advancing 100 meters per minute in some areas.

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It's scary, because you are hearing stories all the time: not just about the houses, but about the people, and you realize that you are very lucky to be okay.

Victims, many of them foreign nationals residing in the area for its tranquility and climate, were caught off guard as they tried to escape the flames. The fire's ferocity left behind scenes of utter devastation, with charred vehicles serving as stark reminders of the danger. "We are very sad for the people who have lost their homes and for the people and families who lost their lives. It is pure devastation, we are totally devastated," said James Shellingford, a British resident.

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We are very sad for the people who have lost their homes and for the people and families who lost their lives. It is pure devastation, we are totally devastated.

Favorable weather conditions, including increased humidity and calmer winds on Saturday, enabled firefighters to bring the fire under control. Regional president Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla announced the stabilization, describing it as the "beginning of the end" of the "cruel fire that has broken records for speed." Approximately 1,500 people who had been evacuated are now able to return to their homes in a phased manner. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the affected area on Monday. The identification of victims is ongoing, complicated by the need for international sample collection from grieving families.

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The meteorological conditions of the night have been extremely positive and (...) we can bring this good news of the stabilization of this very cruel fire.