Wildfire in Almería’s Los Gallardos kills at least 12 and leaves 23 missing, officials say

Wildfire in Almería’s Los Gallardos kills at least 12, leaves 23 missing; officials report ongoing rescue and containment efforts.

Wildfire in Almería’s Los Gallardos kills at least 12 and leaves 23 missing, officials say
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Publish: 10.07.2026
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At least 12 people have died and 23 are missing after a wildfire broke out in the Los Gallardos area of Almería, southern Spain, on Thursday afternoon, officials reported on Friday.

Authorities said the blaze began after an electricity pole fell in woodland and sparked flames that spread rapidly through the municipality.

Eyewitnesses described sudden escalation from light haze to dense smoke and visible flames within minutes, with some saying the scene resembled an explosion.

A British family holidaying nearby, Lucinda Curtois and her partner Riyaz Cheytan, said they evacuated their poolside accommodation around 19:00 local time after neighbours warned them. They reported being forced to change route as the fire blocked roads and encountered large-scale evacuations.

Another Briton, Peter Chapman of Mojacar, said the sky darkened and ash settled by Friday morning. Local online forums were used by residents to seek information on potentially missing people.

Local resident Jose Antonio Flores said the fire destroyed land he had cultivated for decades, including 600 orange trees, calling the loss devastating.

Hundreds of firefighters, military and law enforcement personnel and about 30 aircraft were deployed throughout Friday to contain the blaze, authorities said.

Los Gallardos mayor Francisco Miguel Reyes told Cadena SER the area had not seen a fire of this severity before and that the damage made the municipality feel as if a bomb had hit it.

Officials continue search and containment efforts, while emergency teams work to account for missing persons and assess the full extent of the damage.

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Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
Liberal TR Haber Merkezi
A digital news platform delivering developments in Türkiye and the world to its readers with an objective and principled perspective. Liberal TR Haber Merkezi.
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