Watch: 'We escaped Spanish wildfire, but our friends lost their lives'
Hundreds of firefighters in Spain have been battling a deadly wildfire in the south of the country.
By BBC News
Watch: 'We escaped Spanish wildfire, but our friends lost their lives'
A British family holidaying in Bédar has described the terrifying ordeal of escaping one of Spain’s deadliest wildfires, while mourning friends who died trying to flee the same blaze. The family recounted how they made it to safety, but their friends were trapped and lost their lives in the inferno that has devastated southern Spain .
At least 12 people have died in the fast-moving wildfire in Andalusia, with 23 others still missing as hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the flames . The death toll rose overnight, with emergency services confirming eight people were injured, four of whom remain in serious condition .
Four of the victims were British nationals who became trapped in a car while attempting to escape the flames, according to Andalusian President Juanma Moreno . The vehicle, which had right-hand drive, was found scorched near the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos in Almería .
Seven other people died while walking, having abandoned their cars to seek an alternative escape route not indicated by emergency services . The blaze, which has burned more than 140,000 acres, appears to have been caused by a downed power line during a prolonged heatwave .
Authorities warn the full scale of the disaster is still emerging, with the death toll likely to rise significantly as rescue efforts continue . Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from the area, with around 600 still in emergency shelters while some have been allowed to return home .
The incident is expected to rank among the deadliest wildfires in Spain’s recent history, with all identified victims so far being foreign nationals except one confirmed Spaniard . The British family’s account highlights the split-second decisions that separated survivors from those who perished, as victims appeared to abandon official evacuation routes in a desperate attempt to find safety .
Firefighters are now working to contain pockets of flames in the southeast as the region grapples with the aftermath of one of the country’s worst-ever wildfires .