Spain’s Almeria wildfire leaves at least 12 dead and 23 missing

A wildfire near Los Gallardos in Spain’s Almeria province has killed at least 12 people and left 23 missing, according to regional officials and multiple reports, as search crews continue to look for survivors and identify the dead.

The fire broke out on Thursday, July 9, 2026, and spread rapidly into July 10 across steep terrain dotted with scattered homes. Reports said the blaze was driven by extreme heat, strong winds and difficult mountain conditions.

Around 1,000 residents were evacuated as the flames advanced through the area. Roads were also closed during the emergency response, including the A-7, while firefighters tried to contain the fire and protect nearby communities.

Fast-moving fire

El País reported that the fire moved quickly toward Bédar and nearby areas, where the terrain, wind and layout of isolated homes made evacuations more difficult. AP said the blaze burned more than 3,200 hectares as crews worked through the day and night.

The geography of the area appears to have magnified the danger. Reports described ravines, steep ground and scattered houses, all of which complicated access for firefighters and made it harder for residents to leave quickly.

Officials said the fire developed in temperatures around 40C and winds reaching about 50 km/h. Those conditions helped push the flames through dry vegetation and widened the emergency response.

Emergency response

Spain deployed major firefighting resources to the scene, including large regional crews, the Military Emergencies Unit and other national support. El País reported more than 100 firefighters and 80 military personnel on the ground, while another report said the central government offered 200 UME personnel to help.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences and said the central government would provide full support to Andalusian authorities. The emergency response remained active as crews continued search and containment operations.

Andalusian president Juan Manuel Moreno confirmed the deaths and said the tragedy may have been worsened because evacuation guidance was not followed in some cases, according to local reporting. Authorities have not said whether that affected any specific victims.

Cause under investigation

Investigators are still examining how the fire started. Several reports said the blaze likely began after a fallen electrical cable, power line or other electrical infrastructure ignited dry vegetation.

El País said the origin may have been a cable in the Almocaizar area, while other reporting described abandoned or private electrical infrastructure. The cause remains under investigation, and officials have not issued a final determination.

The conflicting descriptions do not change the current public record: the ignition source is still a working theory, not a settled fact. Any eventual finding could matter for liability, compensation and fire-prevention policy.

What remains unknown

The casualty search remains active, and the death toll could rise if any of the 23 missing people are confirmed dead. At least four people were also reported seriously injured.

Several reports said many of the victims were foreign nationals, with British citizens feared among the dead, but authorities have not yet released a complete identification list. Consular notifications and formal identifications are expected to continue as the investigation progresses.

Officials are now focused on identifying the missing, confirming the final death toll and establishing whether the suspected electrical ignition source was responsible. They are also assessing damage to homes, land and infrastructure as displaced residents wait for updates.