Spain Wildfire Kills 13 in Almería After Electrical Cable Sparks 7,000-Hectare Blaze
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14
Spain Wildfire Kills 13 in Almería After Electrical Cable Sparks 7,000-Hectare Blaze
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14
Summary
Authorities said an electrical cable falling onto a road triggered the Almería wildfire that killed 13 people, including seven Britons, after postmortem examinations confirmed all victims.
Twelve of the dead were foreign nationals—seven from the UK, three from Belgium, and one each from France and the US—while the 13th victim was Spanish.
Bédar and nearby Los Gallardos were hit hardest as high winds drove flames through tinder-dry forest and scrub; some victims died in cars while trying to evacuate.
The blaze, one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years, burned about 7,000 hectares before being brought under control, allowing residents to return home from Sunday.
Spain’s increasingly frequent heatwaves—often above 40C—have worsened wildfire risk; the country lost more than 393,000 hectares to fires in 2025, a recent record.
A Spanish paradise became a deadly fire trap. Are expatriate communities ready for Europe's escalating climate crisis?
As 'climate chaos' fuels deadly fires, are Spain's evacuation strategies tragically outdated?
With Europe heating faster than any continent, can policy prevent the next climate-fueled inferno?
The Bédar Wildfire: Human Toll, Systemic Failures, and Over 6,000 Hectares Burned in Spain’s Deadliest Blaze in 40 Years
Overview
The Bédar wildfire in July 2026 caused a tragic loss of life, with four people found dead in a right-hand drive vehicle as authorities worked to identify the victims. Over 1,000 residents, previously evacuated from villages north of Los Gallardos, were allowed to return home, though many faced uncertainty about their property and loved ones. The fire spread rapidly due to extreme heat and dry vegetation, catching communities off guard. Personal stories, like that of Cameron Karoonian searching for his cats, highlight the deep emotional impact. The event exposed challenges in emergency response and the urgent need for better preparedness.