AS the deadly wildfire that killed 13 people in Almeria crept up on the victims, there was one massive thing missing.
The so-called ES-Alert public warning system failed to be activated.
Just like the disastrous decision to wait critical hours before sending out warnings to residents caught in the Valencia floods last year, the authorities must be exposed for their negligence.
The lack of a clear, immediate warning certainly contributed to the deaths of several beloved locals, many of them long-term expats.
Most were given far too little warning – not to mention the correct instructions – with the majority dying in their cars as they tried to escape.
We know emergency services went door to door to warn people. The mayor of Bedar insisted so.
But, even if true, that takes time – time that, in a fast-moving wildfire, they simply do not have.
And how would they know, after all, if a resident was asleep, or deaf, or simply relaxing at home with loud music on?
One thing for sure (as any expat who lives here knows), when an ES-Alert arrives you sure as hell know about it.
The alert sends text notifications to your mobile accompanied by a piercing sound and vibration, working even if the phone is muted or locked.
While we remain hugely grateful to the firefighters, emergency crews and volunteers who risked their own lives to save others, it is about learning the lessons.
It is about taking responsibility, acting quickly without fear.
The next time disaster strikes, we must be quicker, clearer and better prepared.
Because, trust us, there will be a next time. And probably very soon.
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