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[INTERNATIONAL] · Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, France · 100 sources

Los Gallardos wildfire in Almería kills 13, many foreign tourists among victims

A forest fire that ignited on 9 July near Los Gallardos in Almería province spread across roughly 6 600–7 000 ha, propelled by high temperatures, strong winds and dry vegetation. The blaze claimed 13 lives – the latest victim a 93‑year‑old British woman who died of pre‑existing conditions after being hospitalised – and left at least ten people officially missing. Most of the dead are foreign nationals, including several British and Belgian citizens, and authorities are coordinating DNA identification with consular services from the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and other EU states.

Around 1 500 residents were evacuated from villages such as Los Gallardos, Bédar, Lubrín and surrounding hamlets. After a marked drop in wind and a rise in humidity, the fire was declared stabilised on 12 July; the Andalusian president Juan Manuel Moreno and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the area and ordered a phased return of evacuees. Rescue teams – civil guard, firefighters, the military emergency unit (UME), drones and search dogs – also saved a British couple with severe burns during the operation. The investigation into the fire’s origin continues, with a broken power line suspected but not confirmed.

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