The forest fires in Almería have already devastated more than 6,000 hectares: there are still 23 missing and 1,400 evacuated due to the advance of the fire

“The nighttime evolution has been favorable and the weather conditions allow us to face the day with better prospects than yesterday,” explained Sanz, stating that this will be the first day in which we can “work to attack the fire”, after a few days focused solely on “defense”.

The fire broke out on Thursday in the area of ​​Los Gallardos, an area of ​​rugged terrain in the Andalusian province of Almería, full of ravines and scattered houses, trapping those who tried to flee, according to initial investigations.

The flames also left eight people injured, four of them more seriously, and forced the evacuation of some 1,400 people.

Hundreds of firefighters, with aerial and ground means, are working in the area to put out what is already one of the worst fires in the recent history of Spain.

“The best news we could have is that there is no news in relation to new victims,” ​​highlighted the Andalusian head of Emergencies before journalists.

“The Civil Guard had combed all the areas and told us that they had not found any more people. That does not prevent or mean that it cannot happen, but logically it is hopeful,” he added.

As the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, had already done the day before, Sanz was cautious regarding the number of missing people.

“We must be cautious when it comes to reporting that there are 23 missing people, that’s not it,” he asked. “We’re talking about people whose family members can’t contact them, but they may be in shelters.”

At the moment, the Civil Guard has received seven reports of disappearance, he indicated, but until the autopsies and identification of the bodies found are carried out, a definitive balance cannot be established, since these people could be part of the deceased located.