Spain Wildfire Kills 12, British Nationals Among Dead
POLICY WIRE — ALMERIA, Spain — A wildfire in southern Spain has claimed at least 12 lives in a remote expat community, with victims perishing as they fled the f...
POLICY WIRE — ALMERIA, Spain — A wildfire in southern Spain has claimed at least 12 lives in a remote expat community, with victims perishing as they fled the flames in cars and on foot, authorities confirmed Friday. Andalusia’s regional leader, Juan Manuel Moreno, reported eight injured — and 23 missing.
Four of the deceased are believed to be British nationals, identified by their right-hand drive vehicle, regional authorities said. Other unspecified nationals are also thought to be among the dead, with the toll expected to rise. Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, said most victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions. Mr Sanz added that some attempted to escape via a dry riverbed that turned into a death trap. Seven people died on foot after abandoning their cars, Mr Sanz noted, adding that most of the deceased are believed to be foreign nationals.
The blaze, described as one of Spain’s deadliest, erupted late Thursday in a semi-arid area near Almeria province’s Sierra de Los Filabres mountains, amid soaring temperatures across the country. The fire was still burning as of Friday afternoon. Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which had consumed more than 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland.
Moreno, the Andalusian regional leader, said containing the fire was difficult due to the steep, dry terrain. Moreno stated, “It consists mainly of scrubland and esparto grass. Everything is extremely dry due to the heat waves, making it the perfect fuel; combined with the wind, it’s a ticking time bomb.”
Dean Taylor, a resident who divides his time between Spain and the UK, said he managed to escape the neighborhood by using back roads. “It was quite terrifying,” Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It’s a very sad day, isn’t it? It’s devastating, really.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences, writing on X, Immense sadness and desolation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria.
Spain has experienced frequent — and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 C (104 F). Wind, high temperatures, — and low rainfall contribute to small wildfires escalating into uncontrolled blazes. In June, Spain recorded several days of record-setting heat, with over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Parts of Western Europe are currently facing their third heat wave in six weeks. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record, bringing several intense heat waves across Europe.
Neighboring France is experiencing the peak of its third heat wave of the summer, with temperatures reaching 40 C (104 F) across western and central areas and around 37 C (98 F) in Paris. French authorities have warned of a very high wildfire risk, as large fires in the south have already scorched thousands of hectares this week, disrupting the Tour de France cycling race and straining firefighting resources. The largest wildfire, in the eastern Pyrenees near the Spanish border, had decreased in intensity by Friday, authorities said. It had burned about 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) and forced the temporary evacuation of more than 10,000 people from nearby villages. Last month was France’s hottest June on record, with deaths surging by nearly a third during the hottest week.
Scientists warn that climate change, caused in part by the burning of fossil fuels, is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires. Spain is accustomed to wildfires, with last year’s fire season burning more than 393,000 hectares (almost 1,520 square miles), an area twice as large as London, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. Four people died in Spain’s wildfires last year. Spain’s deadliest wildfire occurred in 1979 when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar. In 2017, a wildfire in neighboring Portugal left 66 people dead in Pedrogao Grande, with 47 dying on one road while attempting to flee in their cars.
