At least 12 people have been confirmed dead, while 23 others remain missing after a devastating wildfire swept through Spain’s southern Andalusia region, according to regional president Juanma Moreno.
Authorities in Andalusia said four of the victims are believed to be British nationals.
Emergency crews are continuing efforts to bring the blaze under control after it erupted in a wooded area near Los Gallardos in Almería province.
Moreno said initial indications suggest the fire may have been triggered by a collapsed power line, although investigations are ongoing.
The disaster comes as southern Europe faces an intense heatwave, with temperatures hovering around 40C (104F). Wildfires have already forced thousands of people from their homes in Spain, Portugal and France this summer.
Most of the victims were discovered in and around the village of Bédar, close to Los Gallardos.
Andalusia’s Health and Emergencies Minister, Antonio Sanz, described the blaze as fast-moving and highly complex, adding that most, if not all, of those killed could be foreign nationals.
According to Sanz, four victims were found trapped inside a vehicle, while the remaining eight were discovered in different locations after apparently attempting to flee the advancing flames.
He said the occupants of the vehicle were believed to be “of British origin” because the car had a right-hand steering wheel. A spokesperson for Downing Street told the PA news agency that the UK Foreign Office was in contact with Spanish authorities.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot also said many Belgians own holiday homes in Spain and that consular officials were working to reach “Belgians with whom they have not been able to get in touch”.
Sanz described the incident as the “most devastating fire” ever experienced in Andalusia and said the victims had attempted to escape using a “different route than that designated for evacuation”.
Moreno expressed sorrow over the tragedy, warning that the death toll could still increase.
“Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief,” the regional president posted on social media.
Health officials said four people are receiving treatment in hospital for severe burns, while another four suffered less serious injuries, including minor burns and smoke inhalation.
“Everything appears to point to the collapse of a power line pole, although this will still need to be investigated,” Moreno said on Cadena Ser radio, adding that those responsible for maintenance would be held accountable.
However, electricity provider Endesa disputed the claim, saying the fallen line was inactive and was not part of its network.
Peter Chapman, who owns a holiday home near Los Gallardos with his wife Shelagh, said the speed at which smoke spread initially made them think a storm was approaching.
“The only way I can describe it is by thinking of how my mother used to describe the London bombings during the Second World War. It was surreal,” Peter Chapman said.
“It’s just terrible. People come away for a holiday and don’t imagine something like this happening. To think that people may have lost their lives is very, very sad.”
The wildfire forced the evacuation of around 1,000 residents and prompted several road closures, emergency services said.
Spain’s Military Emergency Unit deployed 220 soldiers and 70 vehicles to assist firefighting operations in Almería, while the Civil Guard sent 160 officers to support evacuations, manage traffic and investigate the cause of the blaze.
With at least 12 fatalities already confirmed, the incident ranks among the deadliest wildfires in Spain’s history.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had announced in May that the country would deploy its largest-ever summer wildfire response this year.
The UME said it would continue supporting efforts to contain the flames around Los Gallardos.
Spain has endured extreme temperatures in recent months, recording its hottest average day for June since 1950, with some areas forecast to reach 42C (107.6F).
According to the European Forest Fire Information System, about 393,000 hectares of land burned across Spain last year—more than six times the country’s average between 2006 and 2024.
Scientists say climate change is increasing global temperatures, with Europe warming at roughly twice the global average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Experts warn that rising temperatures are fuelling more frequent heatwaves, putting greater strain on water supplies and increasing the intensity and frequency of wildfires across the continent.
The European Union experienced its worst wildfire season on record last year, with more than one million hectares destroyed by fire.
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution group at Imperial College London have also linked the worsening wildfire seasons across the Mediterranean directly to climate change, warning that severe fires are expected to become increasingly common.
