Helicopters drop water on wildfire in Almeria province after night evacuations

Water-bombing helicopters joined efforts to contain a deadly wildfire near Los Gallardos in southern Spain on Saturday, after flames forced residents from nearby communities. Footage shows helicopters dropping water on active fire fronts as flames burn through dry vegetation. Burnt homes, damaged property and scorched hillsides can also be seen in the Lubrin area. Lubrin Mayor Domingo Ramos said calmer winds overnight had allowed ground crews to make progress before aircraft joined the operation. "Fortunately, the wind calmed down last night, allowing the ground crews to work effectively throughout the night, and this morning we've had a much calmer morning. The air support has now joined the effort and is doing an immense job extinguishing the two or three fires we have in the Lubrin area," he said. Ramos said around 100 people had been evacuated from Lubrin as a precaution. "The children from the centre were housed in the theatre in the town centre of Lubrin, about 15 people in the health centre, and the remaining 80 or so in the Lubrin funeral home," he said. Residents from El Marchal said they were told to leave quickly as the fire threat moved closer. "I was staying peacefully at home when they arrived telling me, 'Get ready, we're coming for you.' And why? There wasn't even a fire or anything there. It's just to be safe, because it could be because I was out in the fields," said a resident. The fire broke out on Thursday near Los Gallardos before spreading towards Bedar and Lubrin. Authorities said it had burned around 6,600 hectares and forced more than 1,400 people to evacuate. More than 500 emergency personnel were deployed as crews focused on securing the fire's perimeter and tackling its active fronts. The blaze is one of Spain's deadliest wildfires in recent decades, with at least 12 people killed and several still missing.