At least four British nationals are feared dead in a devastating wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almería, Spain, which has claimed 12 lives so far. Officials confirmed that four people found dead in a burned-out car are believed to be British, with the vehicle having a right-hand drive steering wheel. There are also fears that Britons could be among seven people who died while trying to escape the flames on foot.
Cause and Response
The wildfire is believed to have been caused by a private power line that once served an abandoned house and restaurant, according to local reports. Electricity company Endesa and Red Eléctrica stated the line does not belong to them. Around 150 firefighters have been deployed, with 220 soldiers from Spain's military emergency unit joining the operation. The fire continues to advance, prompting evacuations of 1,000 residents and closure of the A-7 motorway and N-340A national highway.
Fatalities and Missing
Andalusian Minister of Health, Presidency, and Emergencies Antonio Sanz revised the death toll to 11 initially, but it later rose to 12. The regional government confirmed: "The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths." Additionally, 23 people are missing, according to local government reports. Sanz stated that seven people died after trying to escape on foot, with one Spanish and the others possibly Belgian or British. Another seven died after not evacuating their homes, said Bedar Mayor Angel Francisco Collado Fernandez.
Impact and Statements
Francisco Miguel Reyes, mayor of Los Gallardos, described the scene: "It feels like a bomb has fallen. The fire is out of control, and the wind isn't helping. There's a lot of property damage, but that can be repaired; lives, however, cannot." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed "immense sadness and pain" on X, offering condolences to the families. Sanz called it "the most devastating fire to date in our region" and an "unprecedented tragedy." The wildfire follows a separate blaze in southern France that injured 16 and led to over 10,000 evacuations. Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, according to the World Meteorological Organisation, making prolonged heat episodes increasingly likely.
