A Spain wildfire turned a desperate rescue for family cats into a final heartbreaking phone call.
A British man died during the deadly wildfires in southeastern Spain after reportedly going back to rescue his cats as flames closed in around his car.
The man was speaking to his wife by phone in his final moments, according to a friend who spoke to The Times. The emotional account has drawn fresh attention to one of Spain’s deadliest recent wildfire disasters.
Reuters reported Sunday that the death toll has now risen to 13 after a 93-year-old British woman died from injuries linked to the fire. Ten people remain missing, including three believed to be Belgian nationals.
Final Call as Flames Closed In
Penelope Howe, a 54-year-old British resident near Bedar, told The Times that her friend’s husband had gone back for the couple’s cats during the evacuation.
Howe said the man became trapped in his car while speaking to his wife. She described her friend as being in deep shock after hearing the final moments unfold by phone.
Officials have not yet publicly identified the British man. Authorities are still working to confirm victims through DNA testing because many relatives live outside Spain.
Wildfire Swept Through Bedar and Los Gallardos
The fire broke out in Spain’s Almeria province and moved rapidly through areas near Bedar and Los Gallardos. Reuters reported that more than 7,000 hectares were burned in the Los Gallardos area.
Many victims were found after trying to flee by car or on foot as the fire moved through the area. Burned vehicles were later seen along roads where people had become trapped.
Reuters reported that the wildfire became one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years. You can read Reuters’ latest report here: Reuters Spain wildfire update.
Families Challenge Official Warning Claims
Spanish officials said residents were warned either to evacuate or shelter in place, depending on where they were. They said local officials and police contacted people by phone or went door to door.
But Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt, the son of Belgian victim Stanislas Verdonckt, disputed that account. He told Reuters that no clear warning reached his father before the flames were nearly upon the area.
“No information was provided,” Verdonckt told Reuters. He said the people who died only tried to run when they believed it was their last option.
Reuters reported that Bedar Mayor Angel Collado said he had urged the group that included Stanislas Verdonckt to shelter in place. More details on the disputed warnings can be found here: Reuters report on disputed warnings.
Fire Stabilized After Days of Fear
Andalusia regional president Juan Manuel Moreno said the Los Gallardos fire had stabilized after several difficult days. About 1,000 remaining evacuees were allowed to return home.
Officials said the burned area remained above 7,000 hectares after the fire perimeter was contained. Emergency crews continued searching the affected zone to make sure no victims were left unaccounted for.
Spain’s Civil Guard searched more than 250 homes, according to officials quoted by Spain’s public broadcaster. A final sweep was planned as authorities worked to resolve the missing persons count.
DNA Testing Slows Identification
Authorities have collected genetic material from confirmed victims. But identification has been slow because relatives must travel from other countries or submit comparison samples from abroad.
Officials believe several victims may be foreign nationals, including British and Belgian residents. The confirmed death toll may change as autopsies and identification work continue.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was expected to visit the affected area as Spain faces questions over warnings, evacuation decisions, and wildfire readiness.
A Disaster With Human Questions
The tragedy has left families with painful questions. Some officials say residents were told what to do, while at least one victim’s family says clear instructions never came.
The British man’s final call has become one of the most heartbreaking stories from the disaster. It shows how fast a wildfire can turn one human decision into a matter of life and death.
For now, Spain’s emergency crews are still searching, families are waiting for answers, and investigators are trying to understand how so many people became trapped.