Spain-Wildfire/Emergency Response
Spain-Wildfire/Emergency Response
Dateline : Recent
Location : Spain
Duration : 0'45
Almeria, Andalusia, Spain - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Burnt forest, plant ashes
2. Various of resident, dog on road
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) resident (name not given):
"This is a disaster the like of which has never happened before. We've had fires before, but nothing like this."
4. Helicopter lifting load
5. SOUNDBITE (English) resident (name not given) (starting with shot 4):
"We still don't know, that's why we are waiting here and crossing fingers that it will be untouched. But let's see. Let's see."
6. Plant ashes
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Felix Bolanos, Spain's Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations (with reporter asking question):
"It's difficult for us to control the fire, but we are working with the idea to (have the fire under control) tomorrow -- tomorrow along the day."
(Reporter: So you're confident by tomorrow we should have this fire under control?)
"Exactly."
8. Burnt forest
With at least 12 lives lost and residents forced from their homes, emergency crews are still fighting to contain the blaze as a devastating wildfire continues to ravage the southern Spanish province of Almeria.
The wildfire broke out on Thursday and has since left at least 12 people dead, 23 others missing, and 1,400 local residents evacuated from their homes. So far, more than 7,000 hectares of land have been scorched -- roughly the size of 13,000 football pitches.
According to local authorities, the fire was sparked by a collapsed power line, which rapidly spread through dry vegetation during the region's recent record-breaking heatwaves.
"This is a disaster the like of which has never happened before. We've had fires before, but nothing like this," said a local resident.
The flames advanced so quickly that residents had only minutes to flee, grabbing what they could and leaving much behind. Many are now waiting anxiously, hoping their homes have been spared.
"We still don't know, that's why we are waiting here and crossing fingers that it will be untouched. But let's see. Let's see," said a resident who was waiting in car with his family.
A total of 32 helicopters and firefighting aircraft have been working around the clock trying to tame the flames.
Felix Bolanos, Spain's Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, who is leading the coordination effort, said that Sunday could bring a turning point, with authorities confident of gaining control over the fire by then.
"It's difficult for us to control the fire, but we are working with the idea to (have the fire under control) tomorrow," he said, speaking to a reporter on Saturday.
The bodies of the 12 confirmed victims have been transported to a specialist forensic center in Madrid for identification.
ID : 8489032
Published : 2026-07-12 15:55
Last Modified : 2026-07-12 17:29:00
Source : China Global Television Network (CGTN)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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