At least 12 killed as over 100 firefighters battle wildfires raging across southern Spain

Wildfires have ravaged southern Spain, claiming at least 12 lives in Almería and prompting an emergency response from over 150 firefighters. The Spanish Presidency, Health, and Emergencies Minister Antonio Sanz declared the fire "the most devastating fire to date in our region," calling the situation an "unprecedented tragedy."

Earlier reports indicated six fatalities, but the death toll rose as the scale of the disaster became clear. Juanma Moreno, the leader of Spain's Andalusia region, extended condolences to the families affected by the blaze.

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the most devastating fire to date in our region

In a separate incident, wildfires originating in southwest France have crossed the border into Spain, impacting the protected natural area of Les Gavarres. These fires have consumed approximately 2,200 hectares, with 97% of the affected area being within the nature reserve. Authorities have arrested an employee of a company contracted by Catalonia's regional government, who is suspected of starting the fire while using an angle grinder.

Further south in Catalonia, near the Sierra de Espadan national park, 500 people were evacuated as a wildfire threatened a significant cork oak forest. The region is grappling with multiple fire fronts, highlighting the severe impact of current weather conditions on the Iberian Peninsula.

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Our deepest condolences to the families of the six people who lost their lives in the Los Gallardos and the affection from all of us to the municipalities affected by the fire