A severe wildfire in Spain's Andalusia region has claimed 12 lives and injured 6 others, while a heatwave continues to batter Southern Europe, leading to heavy wildfires in several countries.
On 9 July 2026, international news agencies reported a severe wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almeria province, Andalusia, southeastern Spain, causing at least 12 deaths and 6 injuries amid an ongoing heatwave affecting multiple Southern European countries.
The Andalusian regional government described the event as a tragedy and expressed condolences to the victims' families. Some of the deceased were found inside vehicles engulfed by flames. Witnesses suggested the fire might have started from a fallen power line that sparked rapidly spreading flames into the forest, although officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause.
Reports indicate the wildfire forced the closure of several roads and the evacuation of about 1,000 people from the danger zone. Currently, around 150 firefighters are intensively working to control the fire near the village of Bedar. Among the injured, one person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, another suffered burns, and four others received minor burn and respiratory treatments on-site.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that Spain is experiencing persistent extreme heat, with June recording the highest average daily temperatures since records began in 1950, and some areas reaching 42 degrees Celsius. Earlier in May, he announced the government would mobilize the largest-ever response to summer wildfires. Spain's military emergency units have already deployed forces to assist firefighting efforts.
The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) reported that last year wildfires in Spain burned over 2.4 million rai, more than six times the national average between 2006 and 2024. Europe is the fastest warming continent globally, with temperatures rising twice as fast as the global average, resulting in more frequent and severe summer heatwaves and increasing the risk of major wildfires.
Source: BBC