Spanish wildfire kills 13, 12 of them foreigners
A wildfire in Andalusia claimed 13 lives, including 12 foreigners. Seven victims were British, three Belgian, one French, and one American.
Spanish authorities confirmed on Tuesday that 13 people died in a wildfire in the Andalusia region last week, with 12 of them being foreign nationals. After completing autopsies, officials identified seven victims as British, three as Belgian, and one each from France and the United States. One deceased was a Spanish citizen. The group included eight women and five men, all adults.
The fire broke out on the evening of July 9 in the picturesque province of Almería, home to many expatriates. Strong winds and temperatures reaching 40°C fueled the flames through dry vegetation. Initially, rescuers found 12 bodies so badly burned that DNA samples were needed for identification. The cause was a downed power line on a road.
The blaze scorched approximately 7,000 hectares before being contained. Evacuated residents were allowed to return home starting Sunday. Spain has experienced more frequent and prolonged heatwaves in recent years, creating conditions for massive wildfires. In 2025, wildfires burned over 393,000 hectares, the worst season in modern history.
