ALMERÍA, Spain — At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and six others injured after a devastating wildfire ripped through the municipality of Los Gallardos in Almería, the regional government of Andalusia announced.
The tragedy unfolded rapidly overnight as the fast-moving blaze trapped residents. Emergency services reported that several of the victims’ bodies were discovered inside vehicles in a hamlet belonging to the neighboring municipality of Bédar, indicating they were overtaken by the flames while attempting a desperate nighttime evacuation.
Andalusia’s 112 Emergency Service received the initial alarm at approximately 5:00 PM local time (1500 GMT) on Thursday. Fanned by high temperatures, low humidity, and treacherous wind gusts, the fire exploded across parched woodland terrains, necessitating the immediate activation of Level 1 of the Andalusian Forest Fire Emergency Plan (Plan INFOCA).
Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) has deployed 150 frontline personnel alongside ground crews, firefighting aircraft, and specialized helicopters. To secure the disaster zone and facilitate safe staging corridors, authorities enforced emergency road closures on the major A-7 freeway and the N-340A arterial highway.
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s regional minister for Health, the Presidency, and Emergencies, classified the incident as the region’s single most devastating environmental catastrophe to date, calling the situation an “unprecedented tragedy.”
Among the six injured survivors, one individual remains hospitalized with severe smoke inhalation, and another is receiving treatment for burns. Emergency medical teams treated four additional individuals at the scene for minor respiratory distress and minor burns caused by the thick, suffocating smoke blanketing the valley. Judicial authorities have officially opened an investigation to determine the definitive cause of the ignition, while the formal identification process for the victims remains ongoing.
The catastrophe in Almería coincides with a broader regional climate event, with severe heatwaves pushing temperatures consistently past 40°C (104°F). Beyond Almería, emergency crews are simultaneously tackling major outbreaks across southern Europe.
For More Information Please Visit Our News.
