Fast-moving wildfire near Almería claims 12 lives amid extreme heat as firefighters battle one of Spain’s deadliest fires in recent years
A devastating wildfire in southern Spain has claimed the lives of 12 people after breaking out Thursday afternoon near Almería, in the region of Andalusia. According to local authorities, the death toll is already higher than the total number of fatalities caused by wildfires across Spain during the whole of 2025.
Several victims were found inside their vehicles, highlighting how rapidly the flames spread and trapped residents and motorists attempting to escape.
At least 12 people killed, 6 injured in Los Gallardos, Spain wildfire, officials say. pic.twitter.com/2jO5ve6o8C
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Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expresses condolences
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families of the victims.
He also urged firefighters and emergency responders to remain extremely cautious as they continue battling the wildfire under dangerous weather conditions.
Fire spread rapidly through dry vegetation
The wildfire started in the Los Gallardos area, near the municipality of Bédar, and spread quickly due to extreme heat, dry vegetation and strong winds.
Authorities believe the blaze may have started after a power line fell near the N-340A highway, igniting nearby vegetation before spreading rapidly across the surrounding hillsides.
Emergency services received more than 150 emergency calls within a short period as residents reported the fast-moving flames.
Dozen people killed in southern Spain wildfire, officials said. pic.twitter.com/bzspEfINem
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Massive firefighting operation underway
Around 150 firefighters with multiple fire engines worked throughout the night to contain the blaze.
Spain has also deployed the Military Emergency Unit (UME), the country’s elite emergency response force specialized in large-scale natural disasters.
Several communities were evacuated, while around 50 residents spent the night in an emergency shelter established inside a local cultural center.
Injuries reported
In addition to the fatalities, officials confirmed that a woman suffering from burns and another person affected by smoke inhalation were transported to hospital.
Four more people received medical treatment at the scene for respiratory problems and minor burns.
Spain faces another dangerous wildfire season
Spain is once again experiencing an intense heatwave, with several areas of Andalusia placed under orange weather warnings due to extreme temperatures and very high wildfire risk.
The country is considered one of Europe’s climate change hotspots, where prolonged heatwaves and drought have significantly increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), nearly 4 million stremmas (approximately 400,000 hectares) burned across Spain during 2025, making it the country’s worst wildfire season in modern history. More than 42,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sánchez announced the deployment of Spain’s largest-ever wildfire response force, warning that another challenging summer was expected.
