Firefighters gain upper hand on Spain's deadliest wildfire in Andalusia after at least 12 deaths

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2 days · 4 summary articles
Firefighters in Spain have gained the upper hand on one of the country's deadliest wildfires, which has killed at least 12 people and destroyed thousands of hectares of land in the southern region of Andalusia. The blaze, which started on Thursday, has been fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, but improved weather on Saturday has aided firefighting efforts.
The fire, located in the Almería province, has destroyed around 6,600 hectares of land, according to the state TV broadcaster RTVE. The flames have affected areas around the towns of Los Gallardos and Bédar, about 70 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital, Almería.
At least 12 people have died in the fire, with many of the victims being foreigners, including Britons and Belgians. Another 23 people are still missing, and around 1,500 people have been evacuated from their homes and a campsite, including tourists from Britain.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be a broken power line, although this has not been confirmed. The fire spread rapidly on Friday, engulfing victims as they tried to flee. Autopsies have been conducted on all 12 bodies recovered so far.
The president of the Andalusian regional government, Antonio Sanz, said that the weather conditions had improved, allowing firefighters to shift from a defensive to an offensive strategy. "The development overnight has been favorable, and the weather conditions mean we can face the day with better prospects than yesterday," Sanz said.
The fire has affected areas near popular Mediterranean beaches like Playa de Mojácar. The A7 highway, which was partially closed on Friday, has been reopened.
Survivors have described harrowing experiences. Manoli Ramos, a 72-year-old resident of Bédar, said, "We were terrified. We could see the flames. It was horrible." Another survivor, Jeffrey Kember, described driving through the flames to escape: "I thought, 'I can't stop, I just have to keep going.' It was eerie, because suddenly I came out of the flames and everything was bright sunshine. It was surrealistic."
The fire has been described as one of the deadliest in Spain's history. The Spanish government has sent additional firefighting resources to the area, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
The fire has also raised concerns about the country's preparedness for wildfires. Jean-Pascal Van Ypersele, a professor of climatology at the Université catholique de Louvain, said, "We are not prepared enough for the conditions that fuel these fires."
The fire has affected a region popular with tourists, and some hotels in the area have started to receive evacuees and cancellations. The fire has also caused significant ecological damage, with thousands of hectares of forest and bushland destroyed.
The Spanish government has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and has pledged to provide support to those affected by the fire. The fire is still ongoing, but firefighters are hopeful that the improved weather conditions will help them to bring it under control.
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