At least 11 people died overnight into Friday in a wildfire that tore through the town of Los Gallardos in southern Spain, near the tourist city of Almeria. Eight more were injured and 19 remained unaccounted for, authorities said.
The regional health minister of Andalucia, Antonio Sanz, told a press briefing that four of those who died appeared to be of British origin because they were found in a vehicle whose steering wheel was on the right side, unlike vehicles used elsewhere in Europe. Regional President Juanma Moreno said on a local radio show that "the majority" of those who were killed "were foreigners" and that the process of identifying them was ongoing.
Sanz said some victims lost their lives after "deciding to find a different path (out) on their own, other than the evacuation one" recommended by officials and wound up walking across a "dry riverbed" that in the end "became a real trap." He said 122 people had been brought to a nearby theater and a sports center.
The cause of the blaze had not been determined as of Friday. Spain has been among several European nations hit by severe heat waves, with temperatures peaking at nearly 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the country's south. Hundreds of emergency responders worked to contain flames that authorities described as very serious, burning through an area with plentiful vegetation and reaching a highway.
The Spanish Royal Family canceled their toast during a ceremony at the General Air and Space Academy in Murcia, where King Felipe's daughter, Princess Leonor, completed her military training. During his speech, the king asked for a minute of silence for the fire's victims. Earlier Friday, the crown royals issued a statement on social media: "We express our sadness and condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and to all those affected. We also extend our gratitude and support to the emergency services and all those who, with professionalism and dedication, continue to work to address this situation."
The Spain fire is now among the deadliest wildfires in the country's history. It fits a broader pattern across Europe documented by ABC News. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record.
Some of Europe's deadliest fires in recent years illustrate the scale of the problem. Greece's deadliest wildfire came in 2018, when a blaze swept through the seaside town of Mati east of Athens, killing more than 100 people, including some who drowned trying to swim away from the flames. Portugal's deadliest wildfire left 66 people dead in 2017 in Pedrogao Grande, with most victims dying on one road while trying to flee by car. Additional fires that year pushed Portugal's annual wildfire death toll above 120, making it the deadliest year on record for such fatalities. Last July, 10 firefighters and rescue workers were killed battling a wildfire in Turkey's Eskisehir province when winds suddenly shifted direction and surrounded them.
Scientists warn that climate change, caused in part by the burning of fuels like gasoline, oil, and coal, is driving greater frequency and intensity of heat and drought conditions, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires.
