Los Gallardos wildfire in Almería stabilized with 7,000 hectares burned; 12 dead reported

Optimism is growing regarding the stabilization of the Los Gallardos wildfire in Almería, Andalusia, thanks to favorable weather conditions including high humidity and reduced wind. This fire has tragically become the worst in the region's history, with 12 fatalities confirmed and eight missing persons reported. Authorities are working diligently to control the blaze, which has consumed approximately 7,000 hectares.

Emergency services, including the Junta de Andalucía's Infoca plan and the UME military unit, have been actively working through the night. Their efforts focus on extinguishing flare-ups, securing the fire's perimeter, and identifying hot spots using drones. The improved conditions allowed firefighters to directly attack the fire on Saturday, preventing further spread beyond the already affected 6,600 hectares at that time.

As the situation improves, residents are beginning to return to their homes. Late Saturday night, 600 out of 1,400 evacuated individuals were permitted to go back to areas including Los Castaños, Almocaízar, Alfaix, and the Los Gallardos campsite. The confinement of Lubrín was also lifted. A meeting of the Cecopi (Coordination Center for the Forest Fire Emergency) is scheduled for Sunday morning to discuss the resettlement of the remaining displaced people, who are currently staying with family, in second homes, or in hotels. The Guardia Civil is conducting checks on properties to assess their condition and search for any potential victims.

The judicial authorities have stated that none of the 12 deceased individuals have yet been identified. Autopsies have been performed, but DNA identification is pending the arrival of family members from abroad. This ongoing process highlights the human toll of the disaster and the challenges in accounting for all those affected.