At least 12 people have died in a wildfire in Los Gallardos, located in the southeastern Spanish province of Almería, according to the Andalusian regional government. Six individuals sustained injuries in the blaze.
Some of the victims were discovered inside vehicles that had been consumed by flames. While witnesses suggest a downed power line may have ignited the fire, which then spread rapidly to a nearby wooded area, authorities have not yet confirmed the official cause.
The region is currently experiencing a sustained heatwave, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), contributing to significant wildfire activity across southern Europe. Hundreds of firefighters are engaged in battling major incidents in France, Portugal, and Spain, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.
"The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths," the regional government of Andalusia stated. The head of the regional government, Juanma Moreno, described the fatalities as "a tragedy."
Approximately 150 firefighters were involved in efforts to control the fire in the hamlet of Bedar. Among the injured was one person taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and another who suffered burns. Four others received on-site treatment for minor burns and respiratory issues attributed to heavy smoke.
The wildfire necessitated road closures and led to the evacuation of 1,000 residents, according to emergency services. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously announced plans for the country's largest-ever summer wildfire response this year.
Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) has been deployed to assist in firefighting operations in Los Gallardos. This year, Spain has already recorded exceptionally high temperatures, with June's daily average being the highest since 1950 and specific days registering record highs for the month. Temperatures as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) were forecast in some areas.
In 2023, Spain experienced a record 393,000 hectares (971,000 acres) of burned land, significantly exceeding the Spanish average between 2006 and 2024. Experts note that climate change is a driving factor behind rising global temperatures, with Europe warming at twice the global average. This trend is increasing the frequency and intensity of summer heatwaves, straining water resources, and exacerbating wildfire conditions across the continent. Last year marked the worst wildfire season on record for the European Union since 2006, with over one million hectares burning across the bloc. Studies, including one by the World Weather Attribution group, have directly linked the worsening fire seasons in the Mediterranean to climate change, with experts anticipating a continuation of more frequent and severe fires in the future.