A fast-moving wildfire in the hamlet of Bedar, located in southern Spain’s Almeria region, has resulted in the deaths of 12 people. The regional government of Andalusia confirmed the rising death toll, noting that six additional fatalities were identified following the initial report. Approximately 150 firefighters are currently deployed to contain the blaze, which erupted as the region grapples with a severe heatwave and orange-level weather warnings.
Beyond the fatalities, at least six individuals sustained injuries. Among those affected, one woman suffered burns, and another person required hospitalization due to smoke inhalation. Four additional people received medical treatment at the scene for respiratory issues and minor burns caused by the heavy smoke. As the fire spread through the woodland, authorities were forced to close roads and evacuate residents, with nearly 50 people currently sheltered in a local cultural center.
While officials have yet to confirm the official cause of the fire, witnesses suggested that a fallen power line may have ignited dry vegetation, allowing the flames to propagate rapidly. Juanma Moreno, head of the regional government of Andalusia, described the event as a tragedy, stating on X that the region is devastated by grief and offering his condolences to the families of the deceased. Spain’s military emergency unit is expected to join the suppression efforts in the coming hours.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing climate volatility in Spain, where recent years have seen more frequent and intense heatwaves with temperatures often exceeding 40C. Scientific evidence indicates that human-caused climate breakdown is lengthening the global wildfire season and increasing the likelihood of larger, more destructive fires in southern Europe. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, 2025 was the country’s worst year for wildfires in recent history, with over 393,000 hectares burned. In response to these growing threats, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced in May that the government would implement its largest-ever summer wildfire response strategy.
“The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths,” the regional government of Andalusia said in a statement.
Fire weather – a combination of heat, drought and strong wind – is increasing in some parts of all continents. Human-caused climate breakdown is responsible for a higher likelihood of fire and bigger burned areas in southern Europe, northern Eurasia, the US and Australia, with some scientific evidence of increases in southern China. Climate breakdown has increased the wildfire season by about two weeks on average across the globe.
