Spain Wildfire Kills 12, Forces 1K to Evacuate
- On Thursday, July 9, 2026, a fast-moving wildfire ignited near Los Gallardos, Almería, killing at least 12 people and scorching about 3,150 hectares of forest and farmland.
- Investigators suspect a fallen power line sparked the fire, which spread rapidly through dry scrubland as temperatures in parts of Andalusia reached 40°C, creating tinderbox conditions that hampered firefighting efforts.
- Andalusia Emergency Minister Antonio Sanz confirmed most victims were foreign nationals, including four British citizens found in a vehicle. Seven others died fleeing on foot through a dry riverbed Sanz called "a death trap."
- Emergency services evacuated around 1,000 residents and closed the A-7 motorway and N-340A as 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers worked to contain the blaze across rugged, difficult terrain.
- This tragedy ranks among Spain's deadliest wildfires, drawing comparisons to the 1979 Costa Brava disaster that killed 21 people. Experts warn climate change is intensifying wildfire frequency across Europe as record-breaking summer temperatures persist.
385 Articles
385 Articles
Spain is burning as 23 people remain missing after wildfires
A devastating wildfire tearing through southern Spain has left at least 12 people dead and 23 others missing, with fears the death toll could rise as emergency crews continue searching the scorched countryside. The fast-moving blaze near Los Gallardos in Almería province has become one of the deadliest wildfires Spain has experienced in decades, fuelled […]
A group of nine people were asked not to leave. Scared, he tried to escape the same. Only two survived. “I know six of them. They’re British, some of them have been living in Bédar for more than 20 years,” said Mayor Angel Francisco Collado.
12 Killed, 23 Missing: Watch Deadly Spain Wildfire Ravages Almeria Amid Extreme Heat
A massive wildfire in Spain's Almeria province has killed 12 people, left several missing, and destroyed thousands of hectares as extreme heat and strong winds fuel one of the country's deadliest blazes.
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