Wildfire devastates southern Spain expat community, killing at least 12 with 23 missing

A wildfire tore through a remote expat community in southern Spain, killing at least 12 people and leaving 23 missing as residents attempted to escape the flames. Authorities reported eight injuries as the blaze raged through the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province.

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Most of the victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions. Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that "turned into a death trap."

The fire, one of Spain's deadliest, ignited late Thursday amid soaring temperatures and high winds. Regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno stated that most victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions. Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that became a "death trap," according to Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia's emergency services. Seven people died on foot after abandoning their cars.

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It was quite terrifying. It's a very sad day, isn't it? It's devastating, really.

Four victims are believed to be British nationals, identified by the right-side steering wheel of their burned-out car. Other foreign nationals are also feared among the dead, and the toll is expected to rise. Dean Taylor, a resident who splits his time between Spain and the U.K., described the escape as "quite terrifying" and the situation as "devastating."

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It consists mainly of scrubland and esparto grass. Everything is extremely dry due to the heat waves, making it the perfect fuel; combined with the wind, it's a ticking time bomb.

Firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain's military emergency unit battled the blaze, which consumed over 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland. The steep, dry terrain, covered in scrubland and esparto grass, provided ample fuel, exacerbated by heat waves and wind. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed "immense sadness and desolation" over the fire's consequences. Spain has experienced severe heat waves and wildfires in recent years, with Europe warming at twice the global average.

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Immense sadness and desolation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria.