Deadly wildfire tears through southern Spain, killing at least 11 people as firefighters battle flames amid an intense heatwave.
At least 11 people have been killed and 19 others remain missing after a fast-moving wildfire swept through southern Spain’s Andalusia region, authorities have said, as firefighters continue efforts to contain the blaze.
Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno described the disaster as a tragedy and warned that the death toll could rise, with early indications suggesting several of the victims were foreign nationals, including four believed to be British.
The fire, which is thought to have started after a power line fell before spreading into woodland near Los Gallardos in Almería province, has forced about 1,000 residents to flee their homes and prompted a major emergency response.
The bodies of the 11 victims were found in and around the village of Bédar, near Los Gallardos.
Andalusia’s health and emergencies minister, Antonio Sanz, said the blaze spread rapidly and proved difficult to contain.
He said four victims were found trapped inside a vehicle, while others appeared to have died while trying to escape the flames.
Sanz said the four people discovered in the car were believed to be British because the vehicle had a right-hand steering wheel, adding that authorities believed “the majority or even all” of the victims could be foreign nationals. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted.
Moreno expressed his condolences on social media. “Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief.”
Two people were taken to hospital, one suffering smoke inhalation and another burns, while four others received treatment at the scene for minor burns and respiratory problems caused by heavy smoke.
More than 150 firefighters have been deployed to battle the wildfire, with Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) joining the operation to help contain the flames.
The wildfire comes as Spain endures another severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching around 40C in many areas and forecasts of up to 42C in parts of the country.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Spain would deploy its largest-ever summer wildfire response to deal with increasingly severe fire seasons.
Spain has experienced a sharp increase in destructive wildfires in recent years. According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), about 393,000 hectares burned across the country last year more than six times Spain’s average between 2006 and 2024.
Scientists say climate change is increasing temperatures worldwide, with Europe warming twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The higher temperatures have contributed to more frequent and intense summer heatwaves, greater pressure on water supplies and increasingly destructive wildfires across the continent.
Last year was the European Union’s worst wildfire season since records began in 2006, with more than one million hectares of land destroyed by fire.
