Twelve killed as wildfire engulfs Almería village amid heatwave
A wildfire in Los Gallos, Almería, has claimed at least 12 lives and injured six people, prompting evacuations and road closures as Spain endures an extreme heatwave.
At least 12 people died and six were injured after a wildfire broke out in Los Gallos, a hamlet in the southeastern province of Almería, the Andalusian regional government said. The blaze, which spread rapidly from a downed power line to nearby woodland, trapped some victims inside vehicles that were consumed by flames.
"The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths," the regional government stated.
Regional president Juanma Moreno described the incident as a tragedy, posting on X that "our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief." About 150 firefighters were deployed to combat the fire in the nearby settlement of Bedar. Injured persons included one with smoke inhalation, another with burns, and four others treated on site for minor burns and respiratory irritation.
Emergency services evacuated roughly 1,000 residents and closed several roads as the fire continued to burn. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had earlier announced that Spain would launch its largest summer wildfire response this year.
The disaster comes as Spain experiences record-high temperatures, with forecasts reaching 42°C in some areas. Last year, Spain recorded 393,000 hectares burned, far exceeding the average for 2006-2024, while the EU saw its worst wildfire season on record, according to the European Forest Fire Information System and Copernicus climate data.