In brief
A catastrophic wildfire erupted in Almería’s Los Gallardos after an overturned electricity pole sparked flames. Moments after the first haze, residents saw black smoke and roaring fire, racing to evacuate. The blaze killed 12 and left 23 missing, with residents and emergency teams scrambling to contain the inferno. Eyewitnesses likened the scene to a bomb dropping, and local officials praised community solidarity despite the devastation. The fire, which spread across the hills within hours, highlights the growing danger of summer wildfires in Spain.
People flee a rapidly spreading blaze near Los Gallardos
At least 12 people have died and 23 others are missing in a wildfire that emergency workers were fighting on Friday. The fire began after an electricity pole fell in woodland near Los Gallardos, sparking a blaze that spread swiftly across the hills.
Eyewitnesses describe the devastation as "like a bomb has fallen" on the municipality. “Within 15 minutes there was a tiny bit of haze, to black smoke, to flames,” said Lucinda Curtois. “It was really frightening and unbelievably quick.”
The Curtois family, who were vacationing in Bédar, rushed into a car as smoke rolled in. They drove to a nearby hotel with other evacuees, but said some friends who left on foot were still missing.
Community Response
Local residents, including Pedro Chapman and Jose Antonio Flores, spoke with the BBC about their experiences. They described the feeling of a “bomb” and the sense of community as neighbours offered rooms and shelter to those displaced.
“Hundreds” of firefighters, military personnel, and 30 aircraft were deployed through the night. Los Gallardos mayor Francisco Miguel Reyes said it felt like “a bomb has fallen” on the area.
As the fire rages, emergency services urge residents to stay away from burning areas and to check local forums for updates on missing people.
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