A devastating wildfire in southern Spain has claimed at least 11 lives, with 19 people still missing, authorities confirmed on Friday. The fast-moving blaze tore through the village of Bedar in the Los Gallardos district of Almeria, Andalusia region, and may have killed several foreign tourists, including four individuals believed to be British.
Victims and Identification Efforts
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia's minister for emergencies, stated in a video posted on X that 11 people had lost their lives. "Everything indicates that the deceased are, mostly or entirely, foreign nationals," he said, noting that authorities were still confirming identities. Four of the dead were found in a right-hand drive car, suggesting they were British, though their identities have not yet been verified. The victims were attempting to flee the fire through difficult, forested terrain.
Fire Details and Possible Cause
The wildfire erupted as temperatures across Spain and France were forecast to hit 40°C on Friday. Witnesses reported that a fallen power line may have sparked the blaze, igniting scrub land near a road. The Andalusia regional government confirmed that emergency services received over 150 calls reporting the fire, and flames were visible on a main highway near the village. The fire spread rapidly through wooded areas, prompting road closures and evacuations. About 150 people were housed in a local cultural center.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Approximately 400 firefighters and troops, including Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), battled the inferno. Eight people were injured, four seriously. The fire has scorched about 3,150 hectares (7,780 acres) of forest and farmland. Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, head of the regional government of Andalusia, confirmed that 19 people remain missing. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed being "deeply saddened and devastated by the terrible consequences of the wildfire."
Heatwave and Wildfire Context
Spain has been experiencing increasingly frequent and prolonged heatwaves, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C, fueling major wildfires. The country recorded its third-warmest year in 2025, with 25 single-day heat records set, according to national weather agency AEMET. Earlier this month, a wildfire near the Costa Brava coast forced thousands to stay indoors. Last year, deadly wildfires consumed nearly 400,000 hectares (one million acres) of land in Spain, the highest figure recorded by the European Forest Fire Information System. France has also battled major wildfires, including a 10-day blaze in the Drome region that burned 3,700 hectares.
