A devastating wildfire in Spain’s southern Andalusia region has claimed at least 12 lives, according to regional authorities. The blaze erupted Thursday afternoon near Almería and rapidly escalated amid dry conditions and high temperatures.
Mounting Toll and Ongoing Response
In a statement early Friday, the Andalusian regional government confirmed the death toll had risen to 12 after verifying six additional fatalities in the affected area of Los Gallardos — a rural municipality in Almería province. Earlier reports had cited six deaths in the village of Bedar, some of the victims found inside their vehicles.
Approximately 150 firefighters, supported by five fire engines, worked through the night from Thursday to Friday to contain the flames. Emergency services also reported at least six people injured — including a woman with burns and another suffering respiratory distress, both hospitalized.
National Mourning and Investigation Underway
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed “immense sorrow” over the tragedy, offering condolences to victims’ families and urging emergency personnel to exercise “great caution” as operations continue.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Local residents suspect a downed power line ignited parched vegetation — a plausible trigger given the region’s extreme dryness — but no official confirmation has been issued.
The INFOCA wildfire response plan was elevated to Emergency Phase 2 in Almería due to the fire’s intensity and spread potential. The incident comes amid a broader heatwave affecting much of Europe, with early signs of an emerging ‘super El Niño’ intensifying weather extremes across the continent.