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Wildfire in Southern Spain Claims at Least 12 Lives
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Disasters & Emergencies

Wildfire in Southern Spain Claims at Least 12 Lives

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • A wildfire in southern Spain's Andalusia region has claimed at least 12 lives, with some victims found in their vehicles.
  • Emergency services deployed 150 firefighters and five water trucks overnight, escalating the response to an operational phase 2 emergency.
  • The fire, possibly sparked by a fallen cable, occurred during a heatwave, exacerbating conditions that have led to devastating fires in Spain in recent years.

A devastating wildfire erupted in southern Spain's Andalusia region late Thursday, claiming at least 12 lives. The blaze, which broke out near Almeria, tragically claimed victims who were discovered within their vehicles. Regional authorities confirmed the rising death toll on Friday, stating that six additional fatalities were identified in the affected area.

The number of people deceased in the Los Gallardos fire has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six additional deaths in the affected area.

— Andalusian Regional GovernmentThis statement confirms the tragic death toll and the ongoing nature of the disaster.

In response to the rapidly evolving and potent threat, emergency services initiated an operational phase 2 of the anti-fire plan. Approximately 150 firefighters, supported by five water trucks, worked through the night to combat the flames. The Military Emergencies Unit (UME), tasked with handling critical situations, is set to be deployed to the scene.

The emergency phase, operational situation 2, of the (anti-fire) plan has been triggered due to the evolution and strong potential of the fire.

— Andalusian Regional GovernmentThis explains the escalation of the emergency response measures.

Residents from several neighborhoods were forced to evacuate as the fire spread. One woman suffered burns, and another person was treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital. Four others received on-site care for respiratory issues and minor burns. Around 50 displaced individuals are currently being housed in a cultural center, and several roads have been closed due to the incident.

The Military Emergencies Unit (UME), dedicated to the most delicate situations, will be deployed in the coming hours to the field.

— AuthoritiesThis indicates the deployment of specialized military resources to manage the crisis.

Initial reports from emergency services suggest the fire may have been caused by a fallen cable along the N-340A highway, with flames quickly engulfing the nearby forest. This incident occurs amidst a severe heatwave gripping Spain, with several Andalusian areas already under orange alert. The country has experienced increasingly prolonged heatwaves and devastating fires in recent years, with 2025 seeing over 393,000 hectares ravaged by flames, marking the worst fire season in recent history.

The emergency number 'managed more than 150 calls from citizens reporting the fire; the first indicated that the flames were at kilometer 511 of the N-340A (road). In these first warnings, witnesses indicated that a cable had fallen, causing the fire, and that the flames had spread rapidly to the forest area near the road.'

— Andalusian Regional GovernmentThis provides details on the initial reports and potential cause of the wildfire.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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