At least 11 die in Spain wildfire as heatwave continues in Southern Europe
BBC News 2026-07-10 06:32:08
Context: A severe wildfire in southern Spain has resulted in at least 11 fatalities and six injuries, with 150 firefighters working to contain the blaze in the Los Gallardos area of Almería. The fire, which witnesses attributed to a downed power line, has led to the evacuation of 1,000 residents and road closures. The deaths occurred as a sustained heatwave continues to affect southern Europe, with temperatures reaching as high as 40C (104F) in Spain.
Key Facts
- The Andalusian regional government reported that at least 11 people died and six were injured in the wildfire, with the bodies of the victims found in and around the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos.
- Authorities deployed 150 firefighters to combat the blaze, which was described by Andalusia's health and emergencies minister, Antonio Sanz, as complex and rapid, with four victims found in their car and others found elsewhere, apparently trying to escape the flames.
- The regional government had initially reported a death toll of 12, although Sanz stated that the number was provisional, and among those injured was a person taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and another who suffered burns.
- The fire led to the evacuation of 1,000 residents, road closures, and treatment for minor burns and respiratory problems for four people at the scene, caused by the heavy smoke from the wildfire.
- Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) joined firefighting efforts in Los Gallardos, as part of a larger deployment of resources to combat wildfires, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announcing in May that Spain would deploy its largest-ever summer wildfire response.