A wildfire that swept through Spain’s southeastern Almeria province has claimed 13 lives, including a 93-year-old British woman who died in the hospital. The regional government confirmed the death toll on Sunday night, noting that the woman had been admitted to the emergency room early Friday with burns covering 20% of her body.
The blaze, which began on Thursday in the municipality of Los Gallardos, burned more than 7,000 hectares (approximately 17,300 acres). While authorities are working to identify the victims, officials indicated that the dead may include individuals previously reported as missing.
Containment and Return of Residents
On Sunday, Juanma Moreno, the president of the regional government of Andalusia, announced that the fire had been contained and its perimeter secured. Following the stabilization of the blaze, more than 1,000 residents who had been evacuated from villages north of Los Gallardos were given authorization to return to their homes.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos, who visited the area, stated that calmer winds and increased air humidity levels were instrumental in helping firefighting crews, which included more than 500 personnel, bring the fire under control. Despite the progress, regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz urged continued caution, noting that Andalusia, Spain’s most populous region, faces a high frequency of forest fires throughout the summer months.
Investigation into Origins and Impact
Authorities suspect the fire was ignited on Thursday when a power cable broke during an extreme heatwave that saw temperatures in the region exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). At its peak, the fire spread at a rate of 100 meters per minute, a level of intensity officials described as unprecedented. Justice Minister Bolanos characterized the event as a consequence of the climate emergency.
The search for survivors and the identification process remain ongoing. Spain’s forensic services authority, the CID, is coordinating with authorities in Britain, Belgium, and France to register missing persons cases. The CID has established a process allowing families overseas to report missing relatives and provide DNA samples from their countries of origin.
For more on this story, see Deadly Almería Wildfire Claims at Least 12 Lives Amid Spain’s Heatwave.
Challenges for Victims and Emergency Services
The wildfire has left several people in critical condition. Among those rescued were a British couple found by Civil Guard officers in a ravine near the community of Bédar. The pair, who were reported to be hiking when the fire broke out, were airlifted to a hospital with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies. They remain in intensive care.
Conflicting reports regarding evacuation instructions have emerged. While some officials stated that police went door-to-door or used telephones to provide safety guidance, reports from some individuals, including a relative of a Belgian victim, suggested that no warning or advice was received. Authorities have defended their approach, stating that a general alert was not issued on Thursday night because it could have reached people beyond the affected area and potentially complicated the evacuation process.
The following table summarizes key data points regarding the emergency:
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Deaths | 13 |
| Area Burned | Approx. 7,000 hectares |
| Evacuated Residents | Over 1,000 |
| Firefighters Involved | Over 500 |
| Primary Suspected Cause | Broken power cable during heatwave |
As the recovery phase begins, officials continue to inspect properties in the affected area. Initial reports from the Civil Guard indicated that of the first 250 properties inspected, the vast majority had not sustained significant damage.
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