In brief
In Bedar village, the Almería province, a wildfire has already killed 12, four of them British, with 23 still missing. The blaze, fueled by a heatwave that has pushed temperatures to 40°C, spread through the Los Gallardos area and is suspected to have been sparked by a fallen power line. Emergency services have deployed hundreds of firefighters, while Spanish officials warn the death toll could rise as more foreign nationals are believed to be among the casualties. The tragedy highlights the growing threat of extreme heat and wildfires driven by climate change across Europe.
A raging wildfire has decimated the small village of Bedar in Spain’s Almería province, cutting the death toll to 12—including four British nationals—and leaving 23 people missing.
Hundreds of firefighters, along with aviation and specialist support teams, have been dispatched to the Los Gallardos area to hold back the flames, which spread across dry, hot terrain during a severe heatwave that saw temperatures soar to 40°C (104°F).
Authorities suggest the fire may have been triggered by a fallen power line, though local utilities have denied that blame. The blaze has caused the loss of a car that carried the victims, all of whom are believed to be of British origin, according to Minister Antonio Sanz.
Survivors like Lucinda Curtois, who was vacationing with her family, described the escape as frantic, noting the heavy smoke and that their exits were blocked by the encroaching fire.
Spanish officials stress the need for improved evacuation guidance, as some residents reportedly did not follow recommended routes. The foreign ministry in London has yet to identify the deceased, but has been actively contacting families of victims.
The incident is already among Spain’s deadliest wildfires, with recent events in the Canary Islands and near Lloret de Mar adding to the grim record. The broader context is an alarming rise in summer heatwaves, a consequence of climate change that intensifies Europe's wildfire risk.
