Wildfire in Southern Spain: Death Toll Rises to 13

Missing Persons and Foreign Victims

More than 1,000 residents were able to return to their homes in the evacuated villages north of Los Gallardos on Sunday afternoon. The area is home to many foreigners, particularly Britons. The authorities have not yet formally identified the dead; some of them could be among those previously listed as missing.

Meanwhile, the number of missing persons rose to ten after the Spanish criminal police launched cooperation with authorities in France, Great Britain, and Belgium. Among the other fatalities, many may be foreign nationals, according to the authorities. The Belgian government stated on Sunday that it assumes three Belgian nationals are among the victims.

Contradictory Accounts of the Evacuation

One of them is the 63-year-old Belgian businessman Stanislas Verdonckt. His son told the Reuters news agency that his father and his neighbors had received no warning or instruction from the authorities. They had decided to flee on foot when the flames nearly reached them.

The Andalusian regional government, by contrast, stated that the mayor had advised the group to seek shelter in place. The President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, announced on Sunday midday that the fire had been contained and its spread brought under control. Regional President Moreno called on citizens to remain vigilant throughout the summer.

Situation After the Fire Was Contained

The 72-year-old British citizen Cameron Karoonian said he hoped he would still have a home to return to. Karoonian added: "Und dann müssen wir einfach da anknüpfen, wo wir aufgehört haben. Unser Leben wieder aufnehmen, die Katzen finden, nachsehen, ob es ihnen gut geht, und die Sache hinter uns lassen."

The regional government announced that the cause of the fire would be investigated further. Cooperation with foreign authorities has also been intensified in order to conclusively determine the identities of the victims. The authorities stressed that cleanup operations and providing care to those affected are now the priority.