Los Gallardos wildfire in Andalusia leaves 12 dead and dozens missing
A forest fire broke out on 9 July near Los Gallardos in the province of Almería, southern Spain. Early investigations point to a fallen power line as the ignition source. Strong winds and extreme heat quickly spread the blaze over thousands of hectares – estimates range from 3,150 to 6,600 ha – and into the nearby village of Bédar.
Official counts put the death toll at 12 people, with eight others seriously injured. Authorities report between 19 and 23 residents still unaccounted for. More than 1,400 inhabitants have been evacuated from Los Gallardos, Bédar and surrounding hamlets, and around 600 people have been relocated to shelters such as the Lubrín theatre and local sports facilities.
The firefighting effort involves roughly 150–500 responders, including the regional emergency unit (UME), Infoca, civil‑guard units, helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft. Regional president Juan Manuel Moreno described the incident as a "tragedy of unprecedented scale" for Andalusia, while health minister Antonio Sanz called it "the most severe fire in the region's recent history." Prime minister Pedro Sánchez and the Spanish royal family also expressed condolences.
Search teams are conducting house‑to‑house checks for missing persons, and DNA sampling is under way to identify the victims. The fire continues to be monitored from satellite data, and weather forecasts warn of gusty winds that could reignite hotspots.