As a wildfire swept through the mountains toward rural Andalusian villages near Los Gallardos in southern Spain, residents faced a life-or-death decision. They had to choose between sheltering from the smoke or risking evacuation through rapidly spreading flames.

At least 12 people ignored warnings from local officials who had gone door-to-door urging residents to stay inside. They fled Bédar by car, only to drive into the path of the wildfire.

Four people, who appeared to be British because the steering wheel of their car was on the right-hand side, died in one vehicle, regional disaster chief Antonio Sanz said.

Eight others were found scattered in the fire's blackened path after apparently abandoning their vehicles and attempting to escape on foot.

Regional President Juanma Moreno said authorities had originally confirmed 11 were dead but later discovered one body entirely covered by another.

"Please always follow the authorities' recommendations - always, please... because in this type of fire, the wind changes so the fire might come at you from the south and then it might shift in another direction," Moreno told reporters at the scene.

Most of those killed were likely members of foreign nationals that live in the area including Britons and Belgians, Sanz said. As well as 12 dead, 23 people are still missing in one of Spain's deadliest wildfires. 

Door-to-door

Moreno said no text alerts were sent to residents in villages above Los Gallardos, where the fire started. He said evacuation advice varied depending on residents’ locations in the mountainous terrain and the rapidly changing situation.

Instead, local mayors and police went from door-to-door, or rang residents, either indicating a safe route along which to evacuate or instructing them to shelter in place.

Ángel Collado, the mayor of Bédar, the village from where those killed had fled, said he had "acted from the very first moment, knocking on every door and getting residents out", or telling them to stay, depending on the evolution of the fire at the time.

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Roads blocked by fire

Sonia, a Spanish woman living in Los Gallardos who declined to give her last name, said that she had taken in relatives as the authorities had told them to evacuate at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).

She said that they had been told to avoid the main route out of Bédar, driving out on a back route further up into the mountains before doubling back towards the coast. 

"The road from Bédar to Los Gallardos was blocked, since the fire had crossed the road and it was impassable." 

As authorities searched for the missing, anxious relatives from around the world posted messages on social media and local forums. 

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Spain Wildfires Evacuations Rescue Operations Los Gallardos Bédar