At least twelve dead and six injured as wildfire ravages southern Spain
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6 days · 7 summary articles
At least twelve people have died and six others were injured after a ferocious wildfire tore through the southern Spanish province of Almería overnight, regional authorities said on Friday, calling it “an unprecedented tragedy” and the deadliest blaze in Andalusia’s modern history.
The fire broke out shortly after 16:00 local time on Thursday in the municipality of Los Gallardos, about 300 kilometres north-east of Málaga, and rapidly spread through tinder-dry scrub and pine forest. Emergency services received more than 150 calls from residents, many of whom described seeing a fallen power line ignite the vegetation along a major highway. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause, but witnesses and local media reported the same account.
By dawn on Friday, rescue workers had recovered twelve bodies, including several victims found trapped inside vehicles that had been engulfed by flames as they attempted to flee. Regional health and emergencies minister Antonio Sanz told reporters the toll was “impossible to comprehend” and vowed that Andalusia would “stand with the families of Almería.” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, writing on X, expressed “immense sorrow and shock” at the disaster and urged Spaniards to show “maximum caution” as the country endures a prolonged heatwave.
More than 150 firefighters, supported by five water tenders and backed by the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME), fought through the night to protect villages in the foothills of the Sierra de los Filabres. Authorities ordered the evacuation of several hamlets, including parts of Bédar, and opened a makeshift shelter in a cultural centre where around fifty residents spent the night. Road closures remained in force on Friday morning as crews continued to battle flare-ups fanned by temperatures nearing 40 °C.
The blaze is the latest in a series of major wildfires across southern Europe, where a relentless heatwave has baked the continent since May. In France, a fast-moving fire near the Spanish border earlier this week forced the evacuation of more than ten thousand people from two dozen villages. Portugal and Greece are also battling large fires, while the World Meteorological Organization warned that Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, increasing the likelihood of long, intense heatwaves and the fires they spawn.
Last year Spain suffered its worst wildfire season on record, with 393,000 hectares burned—more than six times the average between 2006 and 2024, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. This year’s early heat has already pushed daily average temperatures to their highest level since 1950, with peaks above 42 °C recorded in parts of the country.
Regional president Juanma Moreno said the disaster in Los Gallardos would be remembered as “the most devastating fire Andalusia has ever faced.” Firefighters warned that erratic winds and parched terrain could still allow the flames to advance, while the UME’s deployment underscored the scale of the emergency. The government has pledged to review power-line safety and accelerate forest-management programmes, but for now the focus remains on containing the fire and supporting the grieving communities of Almería.
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Articles
Nordöstlich von Málaga: Mindestens zwölf Tote bei Waldbrand im Süden Spaniens Immer wieder kommt es im Sommer in Spanien zu schweren Waldbränden. In Andalusien hat ein großes Feuer nun mehrere Menschen das Leben gekostet.
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![⚡Twelve people have died in a forest fire in #Spain 🇪🇸. The fatalities occurred as a persistent heat wave continues to exacerbate wildfire conditions across southern #Europe 🇪🇺. [444]Check back for developments as they come](https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/894/049/522/183/239/original/4654d25a3d741809.jpg)
⚡Twelve people have died in a forest fire in #Spain 🇪🇸. The fatalities occurred as a persistent heat wave continues to exacerbate wildfire conditions across southern #Europe 🇪🇺. [444]Check back for developments as they come
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Wildfires in southern Spain kill 12 amid soaring temperatures #Spain #Wildfires #Europe #ExtremeWeather
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