Christine and Michael Chard, among the first British arrivals in Bédar, are missing after the Los Gallardos wildfire. Authorities struggle to identify victims as 23 people remain unaccounted for. DNA tests are underway.
The search for Christine and Michael Chard, a British couple in their seventies and long-time residents of Bédar, has intensified following the devastating wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almería. Emergency teams are working to locate the pair, who were last seen in the Paraje del Curato area, a cluster of new chalets on the northeastern slopes outside the main village. The fire, which swept rapidly through low brush and sparse trees, has left authorities with 12 unidentified bodies and 23 people still missing.
Efforts to identify the deceased have been hampered by the severity of the burns. According to investigators, the remains are so badly charred that even basic details such as age or gender cannot be determined visually. Traditional fingerprinting is impossible, forcing reliance on DNA analysis. Biological samples from all recovered bodies have been flown to Madrid for testing, but this process is complicated by the fact that most of the missing are foreign nationals, making it difficult to obtain comparative samples from relatives.
The Chards, well-known in the local community for their sociable nature and regular presence in village restaurants and shops, were among the first British expatriates to settle in Bédar fifteen years ago. Neighbours recall seeing them with a group entering a dirt track in Paraje del Curato as the fire approached. Despite being offered shelter and access to a pool for safety, they declined. The path they took had no exit, and eight of the twelve bodies found so far were discovered along this route by the Guardia Civil.
Authorities have marked searched paths and burnt-out vehicles with yellow paint as they comb the affected area. However, only seven official missing persons reports have been filed, despite the higher number of unaccounted individuals. This gap complicates the identification process, as investigators need formal complaints to contact families and collect DNA samples. The challenge is further heightened by the international backgrounds of many victims, as highlighted by Luis Ortega, head of Guardia Civil’s Zone IV.
The situation in Los Gallardos has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by emergency services in disasters involving international residents. A related incident, where a group of foreign retirees perished after taking a dead-end escape route during the evacuation, was previously reported in detail in coverage of the Almería wildfire tragedy. The ongoing investigation continues with two incomplete lists: those still missing and those whose remains have yet to be identified. Christine and Michael Chard remain among the names on both lists as authorities await DNA results.
Almería province, known for its significant expatriate population, has seen a rise in foreign residents over the past two decades, particularly in rural municipalities like Bédar. The region’s dry climate and scattered housing developments increase wildfire risks, especially during the summer months. Spanish emergency protocols require formal missing persons reports to initiate cross-border identification, a process that can be slow when families are abroad. The Los Gallardos incident underscores the importance of clear evacuation routes and communication, especially in areas with high numbers of international residents. As the investigation progresses, local authorities are urging anyone with information about missing persons to come forward to assist with identification efforts.
