A huge forest fire that broke out on Thursday afternoon near Almeria, in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, has claimed a tragic toll of 12 people, making it the deadliest fire in the country this year. According to Spanish authorities, some of the victims were found dead inside their vehicles as they tried to escape the flames. The death toll exceeds that of all of 2025, when eight people died in fires.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed "great sadness" over the consequences of the fire and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He called on emergency teams to act with "maximum caution" during the operation to extinguish the flames.

Around 150 firefighters, supported by five specialized vehicles, fought throughout the night to bring the fire under control, while the Military Emergency Unit (UME), specialized in dealing with natural disasters, is also expected to be deployed to the area.


Andalusian authorities confirmed that residents of several areas had been evacuated. A woman with burns and another person with smoke inhalation were taken to hospital, while four other people received medical treatment at the scene for respiratory problems and minor burns.

About 50 residents spent the night in a cultural center turned into an emergency shelter, while several road axes remain closed.

According to initial reports, the fire is believed to have started near kilometer 511 of the N-340A national road, after an electrical cable fell to the ground and ignited dry vegetation. The flames spread rapidly due to high temperatures and wind.


Spain is facing a new heat wave, with parts of Andalusia on orange alert. The country is considered one of the most exposed to the consequences of climate change, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in summer, favoring the outbreak of destructive fires.

In recent days alone, several large fires have been recorded in Spanish territory, including one in Catalonia that burned over 20 hectares of land near the Costa Brava, which has now been brought under control.

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