Spain Wildfire Death Toll Reaches 13 After 93-Year-Old Dies, Burning 7,000 Hectares
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 13
Spain Wildfire Death Toll Reaches 13 After 93-Year-Old Dies, Burning 7,000 Hectares
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 13
Summary
A 93-year-old woman died in hospital on Sunday, lifting the Almería wildfire death toll to 13; five of the victims are believed to be Britons, though identities have not been officially confirmed.
The blaze has now been contained after scorching about 7,000 hectares, with winds of up to 50 km/h helping drive one of Spain's deadliest wildfires through Bédar and nearby areas.
About 600 of nearly 1,500 evacuees were allowed back on Sunday, finding a landscape of burned homes and vehicles even as some properties in the village were left standing.
Residents returning to Bédar said they never received clear evacuation instructions and demanded phone alerts, rejecting officials' earlier suggestions that some victims had failed to follow guidance.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is due to visit Los Gallardos on Monday as the disaster sharpens scrutiny of Spain's wildfire response amid hotter, more fire-prone summers.
Why did Spain's wildfire become a death trap primarily for foreign nationals?
Is a 'lethal cocktail' of neglect and climate change creating Europe's new mega-fires?
Was Spain's deadliest fire a tragic accident or the result of systemic failure?
Catastrophe in Almería: How the 2026 Wildfire Became Spain’s Deadliest in 20 Years and What It Means for Europe’s Future
Overview
The 2026 wildfires in Almería, Andalusia, began in the steep ravines of Los Gallardos and quickly spread due to high winds and extremely dry terrain, which acted as perfect fuel. This volatile mix turned the area into a ticking time bomb, leading to several fatalities and forcing thousands of families to evacuate. The tragedy has drawn deep sorrow from both regional and national leaders, highlighting the devastating human toll. The ongoing crisis underscores how dangerous environmental conditions, combined with heat waves and strong winds, can rapidly escalate wildfires with catastrophic consequences for communities.