The son of a Belgian man who died in the devastating forest fires that ravaged the province of Almería in southeastern Spain claims that the victims received no instructions from emergency services before attempting to flee the flames. His testimony contradicts statements by Spanish authorities, who had indicated that several people ignored official recommendations to stay indoors.
Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt, a 33-year-old Belgian virologist, told Reuters that he spoke by telephone with his father, Stanislas Verdonckt, 63, shortly before 21 p.m. on Thursday, as the fire approached the mountain village of Bédar. According to him, no warning had been issued to the affected residents at that time.
Stanislas Verdonckt was among the victims found dead in a valley near Paraje el Curato, not far from Bédar, where he lived. After the tragedy, his son traveled to Spain and met several neighbors who had survived the fire. According to their accounts, they received no official instructions to encourage them to stay in their homes rather than evacuate.
Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt also asserts that local residents had no way to evacuate by road when the flames spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds. He believes the authorities failed to adequately warn residents about the escalating danger.
Spanish authorities maintain that the deceased had been advised to self-isolate and that they did not follow these recommendations. The exact circumstances of the tragedy are still under investigation, while the fire, one of the deadliest to hit Spain in recent years, has already claimed many lives and ravaged a large area of the province of Almería.
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