11 Dead in Southern Spain Wildfire, British Tourists Feared Among Victims
At least 11 people have died in a fast-moving wildfire that swept through rugged terrain near Los Gallardos in Spain’s Almería province on Thursday night, authorities have confirmed.
Regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz described the blaze, named #IFLosGallardos, as an “unprecedented tragedy.” The fire erupted in bone-dry vegetation during a severe heatwave and rapidly intensified, prompting the full evacuation of the nearby village of Bédar.
Four victims were found inside a vehicle believed to belong to British tourists, identified by its right-hand steering wheel. The remaining seven were discovered outside vehicles, apparently having abandoned their cars on foot in an attempt to escape the flames. At least six people were injured, including one with serious burns, while search efforts continue for 23 individuals still unaccounted for.
Sanz said most residents who followed official evacuation instructions and sheltered in place survived. Those who attempted unofficial escape routes, including dry riverbeds known locally as ramblas, were overtaken by the fire. Initial reports of 12 deaths were later revised to 11 after verification.
More than 150 firefighters from Andalusia’s INFOCA plan, supported by water tankers and over 200 military emergency personnel from the UME, continued battling the blaze into Friday morning. Several roads remain closed, and more than 50 displaced residents have been housed in a local cultural centre.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been sparked by a fallen power line igniting parched scrubland, though the exact cause is still under investigation. The Mediterranean region has seen heightened wildfire activity this summer amid extreme temperatures.
British authorities have been informed and are working to confirm the identities of the four presumed UK nationals. No statement had been issued by the UK Foreign Office as of early Friday.
“The pain is immense,” Sanz said. “Andalusia grieves with Almería and all those affected.”
Containment efforts are ongoing under challenging conditions, with further updates expected as victim identification and the full assessment of the fire continue.
