Los Gallardos wildfire in Andalusia kills 12, leaves dozens missing

A fast‑moving forest fire broke out near Los Gallardos in the province of Almería on the night of 9 July 2026. The blaze, fed by extreme heat, strong winds and very dry vegetation, rapidly spread across more than 3 200 ha, engulfing the villages of Los Gallardos, Bedar and surrounding hamlets.

Official counts confirm at least 12 deaths – many of them foreign tourists trapped in cars – eight injured people and 23 still missing. Around 600 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters in nearby towns such as Garrucha and Lubrín. Preliminary investigations point to a fallen electricity line as the ignition source, although the final cause is still being examined.

The emergency response has involved more than 150 firefighters, 220 members of the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME), several helicopters, drones and aerial water‑bombers, as well as civil‑protective services. Regional authorities, including the Andalusian emergency minister Antonio Sanz, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Andalusian President Juan Manuel Moreno, have coordinated evacuation orders and declared three days of mourning. The incident has reignited debate over forest‑fire prevention, climate‑change‑driven heatwaves and the need for a national forest‑fire management plan.