Firefighters made significant progress on Saturday in containing one of the deadliest wildfires in recent Spanish history, which broke out late Thursday in the Gallardos area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province, Andalusia. The wildfire has claimed at least 12 lives and forced the evacuation of around 1,500 people.
The blaze has consumed approximately 6,600 hectares (66 square kilometers) of forest and farmland, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Manhattan. The rugged terrain, characterized by steep ravines, has complicated firefighting efforts. Some residents described the experience as "horrific" and likened the event to hell, highlighting the intensity and suddenness of the fire’s advance.
Authorities reported that the 12 deceased were primarily foreign nationals, many of whom died after leaving their vehicles and attempting to flee on foot. Among the victims, four were believed to be British, identified in part by the right-hand drive configuration of a burned-out car. Autopsies and DNA tests are underway to confirm the identities. Officials emphasized that some victims disregarded evacuation orders or shelter-in-place instructions.
About 500 firefighters supported by helicopters and more than 20 fixed-wing water-dropping aircraft have been battling the blaze around the clock. Conditions improved on Saturday with calmer winds and higher humidity, allowing crews to engage the flames directly and conduct controlled burns along the fire's perimeter. Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, described a "window of opportunity" to stabilize the fire for the first time since it erupted.
Local emergency officials suspect that the wildfire started when a power line broke amid a prolonged period of extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks. Excessive vegetation growth fueled by heavy rains earlier in the year subsequently dried out due to successive heatwaves, creating ideal conditions for the fire to spread rapidly. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos described the blaze as unprecedented in intensity, at points spreading up to 100 meters per minute.
The Civil Guard police have conducted thorough searches of the affected areas without discovering further fatalities, though the search efforts continue. Reports suggesting as many as 23 missing persons have been clarified by authorities as including individuals who have simply lost contact with relatives but may already be safe in evacuation centers or other locations. Seven formal missing persons reports have been filed.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has coordinated with counterparts from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, and the Netherlands, reflecting the multinational composition of the affected communities. Almeria hosts one of the largest foreign national populations in Andalusia, underscoring the widespread impact of the disaster.
Officials and experts have linked the severity of this wildfire to the broader context of climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide. The fire’s rapid spread and destructive power serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by the changing climate.