Almería wildfire kills at least 12, leaves 23 missing after fast-moving blaze near Los Gallardos
Almería wildfire kills at least 12 and leaves 23 missing after a fast-moving blaze near Los Gallardos; 3,200 hectares charred and DNA tests ordered amid high winds.
The fast-moving Almería wildfire that erupted near Los Gallardos has killed at least 12 people and left 23 others unaccounted for, officials said Friday. Emergency authorities said the blaze spread rapidly through forested terrain in the province of Almería, catching residents and visitors off guard and forcing massive firefighting and rescue operations.
At least 12 dead and 23 still missing
Regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz reported that investigators had confirmed 12 fatalities and identified 23 people as missing in the wake of the fire. Officials said identification of some victims will require DNA testing due to the severity of burns to recovered remains.
Sanz told reporters that among the confirmed dead was one Spanish national and that most of the victims are believed to be foreign nationals. Rescue teams continue focused searches in areas excluded from official evacuation routes where several bodies were found.
Rapid spread trapped civilians on local roads
Authorities said the fire advanced with unusual speed, enveloping roadside corridors and trapping motorists who attempted to flee. Local accounts and rescue reports indicate that many people tried to leave by car despite repeated instructions to shelter in place, and several vehicles became engulfed by flames.
Four people believed to be British were found dead inside a single car, a circumstance investigators said may have been worsened by the vehicle’s right-hand drive configuration. Teams also discovered hiking poles at some scenes, suggesting that startled walkers and day-trippers were among those caught by the blaze.
Foreign nationals make up majority of victims
The affected area around Los Gallardos is a well-known holiday and residential zone frequented by international visitors and expatriates. Officials said preliminary inquiries point to several victims holding British, French and Belgian nationalities, and they warned that nationalities would be confirmed only after formal identification.
Local authorities said they had informed foreign consulates and were coordinating consular assistance for families. The need for DNA testing on charred remains was highlighted as a complicating factor that may delay public confirmation of identities.
Fire razed roughly 3,200 hectares in under a day
Governor of Andalusia Juan Manuel Moreno described the fire as among the fastest and most complex the region has seen, estimating that roughly 3,200 hectares of vegetation were consumed within a short timeframe. Officials warned that changing weather, including forecasts for increased wind speed, could drive new flare-ups and expand damaged areas.
Fire services reported that the early onset of Spain’s wildfire season — driven by prolonged heat and drought — has left vegetation unusually dry and highly flammable. European satellite data cited by authorities shows that tens of thousands of hectares have already burned across Spain since the start of the year.
Firefighting and evacuation operations underway across multiple fronts
More than a dozen ground crews and aerial assets were mobilised to contain the blaze and protect towns in the fire’s projected path. Authorities organised emergency shelters and urged residents in nearby villages to follow evacuation orders and official guidance to avoid secondary casualties.
Rescue teams continued combing secondary roads and forest tracks to locate missing people, while medical services treated several victims for smoke inhalation and burns. Local hospitals were placed on alert as officials prepared for potential additional casualties.
Investigators probe fallen power cable as possible cause
Initial inquiries suggest the fire may have started after an electricity cable fell near a roadside, igniting adjacent vegetation, regional officials said. Energy company Endesa has denied that the cable carried live current at the time, and the company said it is cooperating with investigators to establish the facts.
Authorities cautioned that a full determination of cause will require technical inspections and forensic analysis, including electrical records and witness statements. The governor added that early findings will guide both legal and safety responses if human error or infrastructure failure is implicated.
Spain’s environment and emergency officials have also pointed to the broader climate context, noting that an earlier-than-usual start to the fire season and prolonged heatwaves have created conditions that enable rapid fire spread. They urged residents and visitors to exercise caution and adhere strictly to public-safety notices.
Recent national data indicate a significant increase in area burned compared with previous years, underscoring concerns about fire management as temperatures climb. Officials warned that the coming weeks could bring a sustained period of heightened risk unless rainfall and cooler conditions arrive.
Authorities said they will continue search-and-rescue and containment activities through the weekend, with priorities on locating the missing, recovering and identifying the deceased, and preventing the blaze from reaching further populated areas. The regional government has pledged to support affected families and to review preventive measures for vulnerable zones.
Relief teams remain at work along roads and in woodland, and investigators said they will publish updates as identification and forensic results become available. The full human and environmental toll will likely take days to determine as DNA tests and field assessments proceed.