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EnvironmentSouthern Spain forest fire kills at least 12, continues to spread
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A devastating forest fire in the Andalusian province of Almería, southern Spain, has killed at least twelve people and destroyed 6,600 hectares of forest and scrubland. The fire, which broke out near the municipalities of Los Gallardos and Bédar, has prompted the deployment of around 500 emergency personnel. Nearly 1,500 people, including tourists from Great Britain, were evacuated from homes and a campsite. Many victims were trapped and burned while trying to flee on roads. Authorities suspect a broken power line caused the fire. Higher humidity and weaker winds have recently aided firefighting efforts, and parts of the fire are nearly stabilized, though some sections remain difficult. The A7 highway has been reopened. Identification of victims is proving difficult, but authorities believe several Britons and Belgians are among the dead. Twenty-three people are still being sought, with only seven missing person reports filed. Spain has been plagued by a series of forest fires this year, with over 60,000 hectares destroyed since January.
Source report
The fight against the forest fire in Andalusia continues. Around 500 emergency personnel are deployed. Identifying the victims is proving problematic.
July 11, 2026 | 4:11 PM
A firefighting helicopter is deployed in Tiana. Photo: Kike Rincón/Europa Press/dpa
dpa — The devastating forest fire in southern Spain, which has claimed at least twelve lives, continues to spread. The flames have already destroyed 6,600 hectares of forest and scrubland in the Andalusian province of Almería, according to state broadcaster RTVE. The report cited a spokesperson for the approximately 500 emergency personnel operating in the area around the municipalities of Los Gallardos and Bédar, roughly 70 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital, Almería.
However, conditions have recently improved. Higher humidity and weaker winds have made firefighting efforts easier, according to emergency personnel. Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency of the central government, stated at the command post that parts of the fire were already nearly stabilized, though the situation remained difficult in some sections. The A7 highway, partially closed on Friday, has been reopened.
Tourists Also Evacuated
The flames raged not far from popular Mediterranean beaches such as Playa de Mojácar. Nearly 1,500 people were forced to leave their homes and a campsite, including tourists, mainly from Great Britain. A broken power line is suspected as the cause of the fire.
Many of the victims were trapped and burned by the flames on the roads during the night leading into Friday — just hours after the fire broke out. According to authorities, these were people attempting to flee the flames but choosing a wrong escape route. Eight people were seriously injured.
Likely Several Foreigners Among the Dead
Based on various indications, authorities consider it highly probable that several Britons and Belgians are among the deceased. However, they must wait for the identification of the victims, which is proving difficult, officials said.
Meanwhile, the search for possible further victims continued. The Guardia Civil police unit focused on the municipality of Bédar, where the fire spread particularly unexpectedly and quickly, according to authorities. Emergency personnel systematically searched houses there one by one. According to official information, 23 people are still being sought. However, only seven missing person reports have been filed so far.
Spain, along with its Iberian neighbor Portugal and other European countries, has been plagued by a series of forest fires for weeks. Since the beginning of the year, large-scale fires have destroyed more than 60,000 hectares of land in Spain alone, according to data from the European Commission's Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern
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Deadly Forest Fire in Andalusia, Spain Kills at Least 12