A devastating wildfire that claimed the lives of at least 12 people in Spain’s Almería province has finally been brought under control, according to local officials. Firefighting crews managed to stabilise the blaze starting Saturday afternoon, aided by more favourable weather conditions that included higher humidity levels and a decrease in wind speeds. These improvements allowed responders to secure the perimeter of the fire, which is estimated to have scorched approximately 7,000 hectares of land.
Since Saturday afternoon, calmer weather conditions, including lower winds and higher humidity, have helped firefighting crews as they have worked to bring the blaze under control, allowing them to secure much of the fire’s perimeter. Juan Manuel Moreno, the leader of the regional government of Andalusia, shared the update on X, describing the containment as “good news” following a series of difficult days. He confirmed that the emergency alert level has been downgraded to operational level 1. With the perimeter now secure, authorities have authorised the gradual return of the 1,000 people who were previously forced to evacuate their homes.
Earlier, on Saturday night, regional emergency services minister Antonio Sanz reported that more than 600 of those displaced had already begun returning to their properties. While many are heading back, others remain sheltered in hotels or secondary residences, with the central government covering the associated costs. To ensure safety, Spain’s Civil Guard has been conducting systematic inspections of homes in the affected area; of the 250 properties checked so far, most remain standing and show no significant damage.
Despite the positive turn in the firefighting efforts, the official death toll remains at 12. Authorities have cautioned that the final count of missing persons remains uncertain, as they must complete the identification of recovered bodies and conduct necessary autopsies. Officials have indicated that a significant number of the victims may be foreign nationals.
