Southern Spain wildfire kills 12, deadliest since 2005
A rapid wildfire in Almería has killed at least 12 people, mostly foreigners, highlighting the lethal risks posed by Europe's accelerating climate conditions.
At least 12 people are dead and 23 remain missing following a rapid wildfire near the town of Los Gallardos in southern Spain. More than 500 firefighters and military units are battling the blaze, which has torn through 3,150 hectares of land in Almería province.
Authorities believe most or all of the dead are foreign nationals. Four victims, likely British, died inside a right-hand drive vehicle while attempting to flee. Seven others perished after abandoning their cars and trying to escape on foot along a route that was not part of the official evacuation plan. "The consequences have been terrible," said Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s head of emergencies.
The disaster is Spain’s deadliest wildfire since 2005, when 11 firefighters were killed in Guadalajara. That earlier fire, sparked by a barbecue, forced a major overhaul of Spain’s prevention and emergency response systems. The fact that victims died fleeing on unapproved paths suggests those protocols are still being outpaced by the sheer speed of modern blazes.
Early summer heatwaves in May and June have left vast areas of western Europe parched and highly vulnerable. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Europe is warming at more than twice the global average. This prolonged heat dramatically increases wildfire intensity, posing a growing structural threat to southern European infrastructure, regional economies, and the millions of northern Europeans who reside in or travel to the region.
Local officials are still managing the immediate fallout. Around 800 people have been evacuated, with more than 140 rehoused and four others hospitalised with serious burns. Pedro Ridao, the mayor of the neighbouring town of Antas, told TVE the fire may have started when a loose cable fell into dry vegetation. He noted that mountainous terrain and deep ravines are forcing crews to rely on aerial operations to stabilise the perimeter.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed "enormous sadness and devastation" over the loss of life. He confirmed that security forces and the military emergency unit had been fully mobilised as search operations continue for those still missing.
