Minister Antonio Sanz detailed that the eleven victims, located in the vicinity of the municipality of Bédar, made the decision to seek their own way out through a dry riverbed, which turned into a deadly trap. According to initial reports, four people were found deceased inside a vehicle, while another seven were found walking in the area after abandoning their cars, presumably searching for an escape route not foreseen or indicated by emergency services.
The fire, described as the "most serious to date" in Andalusia, broke out in an area with scattered population centers and homes embedded in forest zones, which facilitated a very high rate of spread. The minister highlighted that the lockdown of Bédar as flames approached prevented more serious situations.
As a consequence of the fire, a thousand people were evacuated. Of these, 122 have been rehoused: 52 in the Lubrín theater and 70 in the Garrucha sports center. The affected area presents significant access difficulties, with multiple ravines preventing machinery from entering the most active left flank.
Antonio Sanz thanked residents for their cooperation and urged them to follow the suggestions of emergency services, emphasizing the importance of not taking parallel paths or acting independently in such situations. He also announced that traffic on the A-7 highway has been restored.
The fire has burned a perimeter of 3,150 hectares. A total of 464 personnel with 124 vehicles are working on extinction efforts, including 21 fire crews with 150 firefighters and nine trucks. Yesterday, 16 aircraft were deployed, and 11 aerial resources are scheduled to be activated from 08:00 AM today. The Military Emergencies Unit, deployed from Morón de la Frontera (Seville) with 64 members, twelve fire engines, and two water tankers, has also joined the efforts.
