At Least 11 Dead, 19 Missing in One of Spain’s Worst Wildfires

At least 11 people have died and 19 remain missing after a wildfire tore through southern Spain, with firefighters still working Friday to bring the blaze under control. Officials say most victims were foreign nationals who attempted to escape by car or on foot instead of following instructions to shelter in place, as flames spread rapidly near the town of Los Gallardos in Almeria province.

Most Victims Believed to Be Foreign Nationals

Andalusia’s head of emergencies, Antonio Sanz, said four people believed to be British died together in one vehicle, identified by its right hand steering wheel. Seven others were found dead after abandoning their cars and trying to flee on foot along a route outside the official evacuation plan. The area is a popular destination for French, British and Belgian visitors, and only one Spaniard is confirmed among the dead so far.

The circumstances closely resemble a devastating wildfire in Portugal in 2017, when more than 60 people died, many burned inside their vehicles while attempting to escape.

Early and Intense Wildfire Season

Spain has faced an unusually early start to wildfire season this year following repeated summer heatwaves that dried out vegetation across large areas. So far, around 57,000 hectares have burned nationwide, accounting for roughly 40% of all wildfire damage across the European Union this year. Firefighters say fires that once typically began in August are now starting earlier as conditions grow drier sooner in the season.

Cause Still Under Investigation

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences to victims’ families, describing deep sadness over the tragedy. Search efforts continue as relatives from multiple countries share information online in hopes of locating missing loved ones. The disaster marks Spain’s deadliest wildfire since 2005, prompting renewed scrutiny of the country’s emergency response systems.