A wildfire roared through a remote expat community in southern Spain overnight, killing at least 12 people as victims tried to flee the flames in cars and on foot, authorities said. Eight people were injured and 23 missing, Andalusia's regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said.
The blaze, one of Spain's deadliest wildfires, broke out late Friday in a semi-arid area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province, as the country has been dealing with soaring temperatures.
Most of the victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions, said Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services. Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that "turned into a death trap," he said.
Four victims were believed to be British nationals because the steering wheel of their burned-out car was on the right side, as with British vehicles, regional authorities said. Other unspecified nationals also were believed to be among the dead, and the death toll was expected to rise, authorities said.
Seven people died while on foot after abandoning their cars, Sanz said, adding that most of the deceased were believed to be foreign nationals.
No reports of New Zealanders caught up in fire - MFAT
A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed it was "monitoring the situation closely".
"At this stage we have not received any request for consular assistance and we are not aware of any New Zealanders caught up in the fire," they said.
"New Zealanders in the affected areas should follow the advice of local authorities. New Zealanders in Spain requiring consular assistance can contact the consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20."
There were currently 145 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Spain.
Dean Taylor, a resident who divides his time between Spain and the UK, said he managed to just barely escape the neighbourhood by using back roads to get out.
"It was quite terrifying," Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's a very sad day, isn’t it? It's devastating, really."
The blaze is a challenge for firefighters
The fire was still burning as of Friday afternoon. Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which had consumed more than 3200ha of forest and farmland.
Moreno, the Andalusian regional leader, said containing the fire was difficult because of the steep, dry terrain.
"It consists mainly of scrubland and esparto grass," Moreno said. "Everything is extremely dry due to the heat waves, making it the perfect fuel; combined with the wind, it’s a ticking time bomb."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences. "Immense sadness and desolation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria," he wrote on X.
Europe battles intense heat again
Spain has battled frequent and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C. Wind, high temperatures and little rainfall help small wildfires grow into unchecked blazes.
In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
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. Parts of Western Europe are facing their third heat wave in six weeks. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record, bringing several intense heat waves across Europe.
France also at risk of wildfires
France is experiencing the peak of its third heat wave of the summer, with temperatures reaching 40 C across western and central areas and around 37C in Paris.
French authorities have also warned of a very high wildfire risk, as large fires in the south have already scorched thousands of hectares this week, disrupting the Tour de France cycling race and stretching firefighting resources.
The largest wildfire, in the eastern Pyrenees near the Spanish border, had decreased in intensity by Friday, authorities said. But it has burned about 5000ha and forced the temporary evacuation of more than 10,000 people from nearly villages.
Last month was France’s hottest June on record, with deaths surging by nearly a third during the hottest week.
Scientists warn that climate change caused in part by the burning of fuels like gasoline, oil and coal is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires.
Spain and Portugal have faced deadly fires before
Spain is no stranger to wildfires, with last year's fire season burning more than 393,000ha, according to the European Forest Fire Information System, an area twice as large as London. Four people died.
Spain's deadliest wildfire was in 1979 when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona.
In 2017, a wildfire in neighboring Portugal left 66 people dead in Pedrogao Grande, located 200km northeast of Lisbon. In that blaze, 47 people died on one road while similarly attempting to flee in their cars.
- Additional reporting by 1News
SHARE ME