A massive wildfire devastates southern Spain, leaving death and destruction behind. Many people have been killed, others are still missing. Many of the victims are believed to be tourists trying to escape the flames.
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What began as a peaceful morning in Bedar quickly turned into a nightmare. Within hours, a fast-moving wildfire raced through forests and ravines near Los Gallardos in Andalusia. Residents and tourists fled in panic as roads were closed and emergency crews rushed to evacuate people. A local blaze rapidly became one of Spain’s deadliest wildfire disasters.
Image: Loyola Perez de Villegas Muniz/REUTERS
For many, help came too late. Around a dozen people were killed and about 20 remain missing. Four victims died inside a right-hand-drive car, leading authorities to believe they may have been British nationals, though their identities have not yet been confirmed. Many victims were trying to flee but were trapped by the fast-moving flames.
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Around 400 firefighters, soldiers and emergency responders battled the blaze around the clock. More than 150 emergency calls flooded dispatch centers in a short time. About 150 people sheltered in a local community center, while more than 3,150 hectares (7,800 acres) of forests and farmland were destroyed.
Image: Chema Artero/REUTERS
Residents gathered on the edge of the village, watching firefighters battle the blaze. Temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F) created ideal conditions for the wildfire. Dry vegetation, dense forests and strong winds fuelled the flames. Witnesses say the fire spreads with explosive speed, turning hillsides and fields into a sea of flames within minutes.
Image: Loyola Perez de Villegas Muniz/REUTERS
Early findings suggested a downed power line may have started the blaze. Investigators said a single spark could have ignited dry brush before the flames spread into nearby forests. The cause of the wildfire is still being investigated.
Image: Loyola Perez de Villegas Muniz/REUTERS
After being evacuated, residents of Bedar are taken to safety at a sports hall in Garrucha, near Los Gallardos in Almería province. “There are no words for this grief,” said Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s regional emergency chief. He described it as “an extremely complex and fast-moving wildfire.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also expressed his shock over the tragedy.
Image: Jose Jordan/AFP
The region is one of southern Spain’s most popular summer destinations. But instead of relaxation, many tourists face fear and chaos. The flames are visible even from a major highway as forests, vacation homes and farmland are threatened. For many visitors, their holiday ends abruptly while rescue crews continue searching for missing people.
Image: Europa Press/IMAGO
Spain has experienced increasingly frequent and prolonged heat waves in recent years. The year 2025 was the country’s third warmest on record. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 393,000 hectares (971,000 acres) burned that year — the highest total ever recorded.
Image: Jose Jordan/AFP
The wildfire is not yet fully under control and the search for missing people continues. The disaster near Los Gallardos shows how devastating the combination of extreme heat, drought and strong winds can be. As Spain and France both battle major wildfires at the same time, concerns are growing that such tragedies could happen more often across Europe as the cliamte changes.
Image: Loyola Perez de Villegas Muniz/REUTERS9 images1 | 99 imageshttps://p.dw.com/p/5Gtrn
At least 12 people have been killed and 19 remain missing after a fast-moving wildfire swept through Spain’s southern region of Andalusia, authorities said Friday. The blaze tore through the tourist area around Los Gallardos and Bedar in Almería province, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 residents and visitors.
Authorities believe many of the victims were foreign nationals. Four bodies were found inside a right-hand-drive vehicle, suggesting the victims may have been British, although formal identification is still underway. Hundreds of firefighters, soldiers and emergency responders continue battling the flames as the search for missing people goes on.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation, but officials say it may have started after a power line fell onto dry vegetation. Spain has been hit by an intense heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), creating ideal conditions for rapidly spreading wildfires.
Spain recorded its worst wildfire season on record in 2025, when more than 393,000 hectares (971,000 acres) burned. Experts warn that increasingly frequent heat waves and prolonged drought are making such disasters more likely across southern Europe.
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