Wildfire in southern Spain stabilised after killing at least 12 and injuring hikers

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2 days · 6 summary articles
The wildfire that has devastated parts of southern Spain has been stabilized, officials announced on Sunday. The blaze, which has claimed at least 12 lives and injured several others, broke out on Thursday in the municipality of Los Gallardos in the Almería province.
Juanma Moreno, the head of the regional government of Andalusia, stated that the fire has been contained and its perimeter secured. "Good news. After some very tough days," Moreno wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The alert level has been downgraded to operational level 1, allowing the gradual return of the 1,000 people who had been evacuated from the area.
The firefighting efforts have been aided by significantly weaker winds and higher humidity, which have helped to stabilize the situation. Around 500 firefighters, soldiers, and other emergency personnel remain on the ground, working to bring the fire fully under control in the coming hours. The fire has destroyed approximately 7,000 hectares of woodland and scrubland.
Among the victims are four British nationals, and a British couple was found badly burned and semi-conscious after being caught in the wildfire. The couple, who were hiking when the fire broke out, are now in intensive care with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies. They were discovered by Civil Guard officers near the worst-hit village of Bedar in the early hours of Friday morning.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be a faulty power line, which may have sparked during the extreme heatwave that has pushed temperatures above 40°C in recent weeks. The rapid spread of the fire trapped many people in their vehicles or on foot as they attempted to flee.
The search for any further victims continues, with emergency services and volunteers combing through the burnt area. Soldiers from the Military Emergency Unit and the Guardia Civil police force are checking remote houses and access routes.
Around 600 people who had previously been evacuated have been allowed to return to their homes. The remaining 1,000 or so evacuees are still being accommodated in places such as relatives' homes or hotels and are expected to be allowed to return home soon.
The devastating wildfire has left a trail of destruction, with charred vegetation and blackened homes a grim reminder of the inferno that sent terrified people fleeing from their homes. The community is now beginning to recover, but the memory of the tragedy will linger.
As the situation stabilizes, the focus shifts to the recovery effort and the investigation into the cause of the fire. The extreme weather conditions and the rapid spread of the fire have raised questions about the preparedness and response to such disasters.
The wildfire in southern Spain serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and response efforts. As the community begins to rebuild, the lessons learned from this tragedy will be crucial in preventing future disasters.
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