Deadly Wildfire in Southern Spain Kills at Least 11, Hundreds Evacuated

A devastating wildfire erupted overnight between Thursday and Friday in the Los Guajardos area of Almeria province in southeastern Spain, claiming at least 11 lives. Local authorities reported that six others were hospitalized, around 1,000 residents were evacuated, and approximately 150 firefighters, supported by additional forces including Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), continue battling the blaze. Nineteen people remain missing amid ongoing search efforts.

Emergency services revealed that several victims were found trapped inside vehicles that caught fire while trying to escape. Among the injured are individuals suffering from smoke inhalation and burns, with four others treated on site for minor injuries and respiratory issues caused by heavy smoke. Witnesses indicated the fire started after a power line collapsed, rapidly spreading to a nearby forested area. Roads in the vicinity were closed as firefighting efforts intensified.

Antonio Sanz, Andalusia's Minister of the Presidency, Health, and Emergency, described the incident as "the most destructive fire Andalusia has ever experienced," calling it an "unprecedented tragedy." He noted that four victims found in a car are believed to be British citizens, with seven others who died on foot possibly including British and Belgian nationals, though identities have not been officially confirmed. The victims who fled on foot reportedly chose an alternative escape route rather than the designated evacuation path, which authorities say became a "death trap." The Spanish Civil Guard has established a special center to receive missing persons reports and urged families to provide DNA samples to expedite victim identification.

This wildfire is the deadliest in Spain since 2005, when 11 firefighters died in a blaze in Guadalajara province. That earlier disaster, caused by a barbecue, destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of forest and led to major reforms in Spain's wildfire prevention and emergency response systems. The current tragedy coincides with an ongoing severe heatwave across Europe, which has already caused thousands of heat-related deaths, including over 5,000 in Germany and more than 4,700 excess deaths in France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands during late June. Andalusian regional Prime Minister Juanma Moreno expressed deep sorrow on social media following the fatalities.

Summary: A massive wildfire in southeastern Spain's Almeria province has killed at least 11 people, forced the evacuation of around 1,000 residents, and left 19 missing. Firefighters continue to combat the blaze amid a severe European heatwave that has contributed to multiple heat-related deaths across the continent.