A son of a Belgian man who perished in Spanish wildfires disputed authorities’ claims that his father and other victims ignored official advice to shelter in place, saying the emergency services gave them no guidance.
Wildfire Tragedy
Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt, the son of 63-year-old businessman Stanislas Verdonckt, told Reuters that he spoke to his father by phone just before 9 p.m. on Thursday evening as the fire advanced on the mountain village of Bedar in Spain’s southeastern Almeria province.
Stanislas Verdonckt was among eight victims of the wind-whipped wildfire found dead in a valley below the Paraje el Curato area where he lived on the outskirts of Bedar, according to his 33-year-old son.
No officials told the group that the fire was heading their way or that it would be safer for them to stay at home than flee, Verdonckt said. “The people who died did not fail to follow any orders because no orders were given. No information was provided,” he said.
A group of neighbours, including his father, first tried to drive away on Thursday night by a paved road, but they were beaten back by flames, Verdonckt said.
Bedar Mayor Angel Collado said he urged the group, including Stanislas Verdonckt, to shelter in place. However, Verdonckt disputed this claim, stating that no such instructions were given to his father or the other victims.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
