One of Spain's deadliest wildfires has killed at least 12 people, with 23 others missing
A devastating wildfire in Spain's Almeria province has resulted in at least 12 deaths and 23 missing persons. The blaze, potentially sparked by a fallen power line, spread rapidly through forest and farmland amid extreme heat conditions.
Why it matters
This event highlights the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Europe due to climate change, posing significant risks to both local populations and international tourists.
One of Spain's deadliest wildfires on record killed 12 people overnight into Friday (July 10, 2026), authorities said, as soaring temperatures grip much of the country.
Several victims of the fire in the southern province of Almeria, a popular holiday destination, were found inside burnt-out vehicles and were thought to have died while trying to flee the flames.
Eight people have been injured and a further 23 are unaccounted for, Andalusia's regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said. Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain's military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which has consumed more than 3,200 hectares of forest and farmland.
Regional emergency authorities said four British nationals and other unspecified foreign nationals appeared to be among the dead.
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