Wildfire in Spain's Almeria Province Kills 12 Amid Record Heat

A wildfire that ignited overnight in a hamlet near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province killed 12 people and injured eight, with 23 others still unaccounted for, regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said. The blaze, which has scorched more than 3,200 hectares of forest and farmland, prompted the deployment of roughly 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from the military emergency unit.

Authorities have not confirmed the cause, but early reports indicated a fallen power line may have sparked the fire. Many victims were found inside burnt vehicles or in a dry riverbed that became a “death trap,” according to Antonio Sanz, president of Andalusia’s emergency services. He said most of those who died were foreign nationals who ignored shelter-in-place instructions and attempted to flee on foot or by car.

Four British citizens are among those confirmed dead, while other foreign nationals are also believed to be among the fatalities. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences, writing on social media that the fire’s impact on Almeria was “immense sadness and desolation.”

The incident comes as Spain endures a prolonged heat wave, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40 °C, a pattern that has intensified wildfire risk across the country. In June, more than 1,000 excess deaths were linked to extreme heat, and the region continues to confront the broader effects of climate-driven temperature rises.