Almeria wildfire: Locals share how they are managing in the devastation

Residents in Almeria Province are still coming to terms with the wildfire that hit Los Gallardos and Bedar. While teams continue working on the ground and in the air, many people have been speaking openly about how they are getting through the situation and what support is needed.

How people are coping

Alison, who lives near the affected zone, said they had been ready to leave if the situation worsened. “It came within a couple of kilometres of us. We were packed up and ready to evacuate if necessary. Miraflores campsite was evacuated because of the smoke!” She mentioned that helicopters and planes were still active from early in the morning, dropping water on the remaining hotspots.

Wendy, who runs deliveries in the Turre area, explained the tough conditions that helped the fire move so fast. She said the extreme heat, combined with months without rain and strong winds of around 50 km/h, had left everything extremely dry. She added that these were natural events that had to be faced, while expressing sadness over the loss of life and praising the firefighters who were working in difficult heat to protect people.

Evacuations and looking out for each other

Several sites took action as soon as smoke levels rose. Staff at Miraflores at Los Gallardos Leisure said the resort was cleared as a precaution. They thanked the authorities and their own team for keeping things calm and organised. They also let people know that the Los Gallardos cultural centre was available as a place to go if anyone needed shelter.

Most local businesses chose to stay closed for the day. Owners said they wanted to pause and remember those who had lost their lives, as well as the people still missing. They encouraged everyone to follow official guidance and look after themselves.

Language barriers adding to the worry

Many people in the Bedar area are said to be elderly British expats, and several residents have raised concerns about how difficult the situation has been for them. Bianca Bouriah pointed out that a lot of older British people were extremely frightened and struggled to understand the updates because they were only available in Spanish. She asked whether important instructions could be shared in both languages during emergencies.

Ysabel Nuñez said it was especially difficult given that so many of those caught up in the fire were British. She felt more effort should have been made to make information accessible.

Community help and support coming together

Local radio stations have been working with Cruz Roja to work out the best way to help families in the Los Gallardos and Bedar area. They plan to collect cash donations and are waiting for clear advice on what items are most needed before asking people to bring anything.

Families still searching for answers

Some people are still anxiously waiting for news. Danielle Gillam-Kirton has been trying to contact her parents, Pete and Fran Gillam, who live in Bedar. Her mum sent a message yesterday evening saying they were leaving, but there has been no further contact. She believes they may have gone towards Lubrin or Los Gallardos and is asking anyone who has seen them to get in touch.

Molly Jay was desperately trying to find her aunt who lives in Los Burgos. Luckily, someone on the Wildfire Watch social media commented that she had been seen being evacuated. Such is the situation with many mobile phone towers out of action due to the fire.

As we reported earlier, the fire has had a deep impact on communities across the province. In these difficult hours, many locals have shown real strength by supporting each other and staying calm. Our thoughts remain with everyone in Los Gallardos, Bedar and the surrounding villages. Many are still missing and the final death toll is expected to rise throughout the day. Euro Weekly News wishes to convey that our hearts are with the residents affected by this terrible tragedy, and look forward to hearing from you all as soon as possible.

Please comment below if you or someone you know has been affected by the fire.