Summary

  • At least 11 people have died in a wildfire in southern Spain, with early indications suggesting four of the victims are British, according to a local official

  • Hundreds of firefighters are working to contain the blaze around Los Gallardos, Almería, which appears to have been caused by a downed power line

  • The bodies of the victims were found near the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos, while 19 others are still missing and hundreds of residents have been evacuated

  • Regional president Juanma Moreno calls the impact of the fire "devastating" and warns the death toll could rise significantly

  • A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across southern Europe this summer

  • Have you been affected by the wildfires? If it's safe to do so, get in touch

Live Reporting

Edited by Kieran Kelly and Tinshui Yeung

  1. Hundreds of soldiers involved in emergency response

    A picture taken on July 10, 2026 shows a Canadair water bombing aircraft on the site on a wildfire that killed 11 near Los Gallardos, in Almeria ProvinceGetty Images

    Hundreds of emergency responders and military personnel are battling the wildfire, which officials say has already burnt through 3,000 hectares in Almería.

    The region's emergency agency (EMA) says so far it has deployed:

    • 178 personnel
    • Nine fire engines
    • Seven helicopters -one medium, one light, one command
    • Six planes - two ground-based, one amphibious and one coordination aircraft

    Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) says it has also deployed 220 soldiers and 70 vehicles to the Almería region to assist.

    Meanwhile, Spain's civil guard says more than 160 law enforcement personnel are involved in the emergency response, aiding evacuation, traffic regulation and searching for the origin of the fire.

    A picture taken on July 10, 2026 shows a water bombing helicopter on the site of a wildfire that killed 11 near Los Gallardos, in Almeria Province.Getty Images

  2. Watch: Firefighters battle blaze as it burns through vegetation

    Some 150 firefighters have been tackling the wildfire that has killed 11 people in Andalusia, southern Spain.

    Footage released by local authorities shows the fire burning in bushes near a road in the area of Los Gallardos, Almería.

    Watch: Firefighters battle flames as deadly wildfires rage in southern Spain

  3. Are you in southern Spain and affected by the wildfire?

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  4. Spanish royal family 'deeply saddened' by wildfire

    Spain's royal family says it is "deeply saddened" by the fire in Los Gallardos.

    "We wish to express our sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have died, and to all those affected," a statement says in a post on X.

    The royal family also expressed its gratitude to emergency workers involved in the response.

  5. In pictures: Firefighters tackle deadly blaze

    Firefighters are continuing to tackle the deadly wildfire that has claimed at least 11 lives in Almería, southern Spain.

    Images released by local authorities overnight show the extent of the blaze, which local minister Antonio Sanz describes as "very complex, very fast-moving".

    A spokesperson for EMA Infoca, the emergency firefighting agency in Andalusia, says the images show the "magnitude" of the fire, as well as "the conditions under which the forest fighters have worked".

    An emergency worker dressed in yellow work wear, wearing a green helmet and breathing equipment looks on as a fire burns nearby on dry landX/Reuters

    An emergency worker tackling the wildfire in Almería

    Emergency personnel work during a wildfire in Almeria, SpainX/Reuters

    Regional authorities described the fire as "very complex, very fast-moving"

  6. Impact of wildfire is 'devastating' - regional leader

    Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (L), and Andalusian regional President Juanma Moreno (R) address the media during their visit to the site of a major train collision near the town of Adamuz, Cordoba province, southern Spain, 19 January 2026EPA

    Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (L), and Andalusian regional leader Juanma Moreno (R) - pictured in January - have given updates on the fire

    Juanma Moreno, the president of Spain's Andalusia region where the fire is taking place, says the consequences of the blaze are "devasating".

    In an update posted on X, he confirms that at least 11 people have died, eight injured and 19 unaccounted for.

    "We are all fully committed to assisting those affected, and the response team is working tirelessly to contain the fire as soon as possible," he writes.

    Earlier today, Moreno warned that the death toll could rise significantly.

    Overnight, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the "terrible consequences" caused by the fire and offered his condolences to the families of those killed.

  7. Fast-moving fire appears to have been caused by fallen power line

    The fire is complex and rapid, according to Andalusia's health and emergencies minister Antonio Sanz, who says it broke out in a wooded area.

    Andalusia's regional leader Juanma Moreno says it appears to have been caused by a downed power line.

    Moreno has also warned that the death toll could rise significantly, writing on social media: "Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief."

  8. What we know so far about the victims of the fire

    Smoke and flames rise during a wildfire in Los GallardosReuters

    The bodies of the 11 people that are confirmed to have been killed in the fire were found in and around the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos, in the Andalusia region of southern Spain.

    The region’s health and emergencies minister, Antonio Sanz, says the majority, or even all of the victims, may be foreign nationals.

    Four of those killed were trapped inside a car, says Sanz, adding that these four are believed to be “of British origin” and that the car had a steering wheel on the right.

    However, we do not have any official confirmation that those involved were British. The BBC has contacted the UK Foreign Office for further information.

    Andalusia's regional leader, Juanma Moreno, says that a further 19 people are currently unaccounted for, while a further eight have been injured, four seriously so.

  9. Spain wildfire kills at least 11 as heatwave hits Europe

    At least 11 people have died and 19 others are missing in a wildfire in southern Spain, Andalusia's regional leader Juanma Moreno says.

    Another local official says early indications suggest four of the victims are British.

    Hundreds of people are trying to contain the fire, which Moreno says appears to have been caused by a downed power line. The flames then spread in a wooded area around Los Gallardos, Almería.

    A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across southern Europe this summer.

    Firefighters have been battling major incidents in France, Portugal and Spain, with thousands forced to leave their homes.

    The bodies of the 11 victims were found in and around the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos.

    We'll bring you the latest updates on the situation as the day unfolds, so stay with us.