A fast-moving wildfire fueled by an intense heatwave tore through southern Spain's Almeria province, killing at least 12 people and becoming the deadliest wildfire ever recorded in the Andalusia region, authorities said Friday.
The blaze erupted Thursday in a semi-arid, wooded area near the hamlet of Bedar in the municipality of Los Gallardos, close to the Sierra de los Filabres mountains.
Driven by temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds, the fire spread with extraordinary speed, overwhelming evacuation efforts and forcing hundreds of residents to flee.
Authorities said many of the victims died while attempting to escape in their vehicles instead of following official emergency instructions to remain sheltered or use designated evacuation routes.
Andalusia's head of emergencies, Antonio Sanz, said the wildfire spread rapidly through the forested hills surrounding Los Gallardos, with Bedar among the hardest-hit communities.
