Los Gallardos: At least 4 ‘Brits’ among 11 dead in wildfire as bodies found in car | World | News

At least 11 people have died as a wildfire is ripping through a Spanish region loved by British expats and holidaymakers. Among the victims of the blaze, which broke out near Los Gallardos in the southeastern province of Almería, four have been described as “of British origin” by a Spanish official.

Their bodies, Andalucia’s acting Regional Minister for Health Antonio Sanz said, were found in a vehicle. He wrote on X: “Unfortunately the decision of some people to take evacuation routes that weren’t those indicated by the emergency services and take an alternative route became a mortal trap.

Have you been affected by the Los Gallardos fires? Get in touch with us to share your story at livenews@reachplc.com

“There were two scenarios like that specifically. One was a vehicle in which four people died with everything pointing to them being of British origin. Their steering wheel was on the other side to the side they normally are in Spain.

“Then another seven people died in another scenario. They were walking and had abandoned their cars and were probably looking for a way out. But they had taken a route which wasn’t the one indicated by the emergency services and the consequences have been terrible.”

In a press conference that followed, Mr Sanz added there could be more British nationals among the group of seven fatalities.

He said: “In that second scenario there were nine people and two managed to save themselves but seven died. One appears to have been Spanish and the seven others could be foreigners, Belgians and British nationals.”

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

The local government’s president, Juanma Moreno, said the death toll could rise to at least 12, and 19 people are still missing.

The deadly fire comes as an intense heatwave grips southern Europe, with soaring temperatures helping to fuel wildfires across Spain, France and Portugal.

Witnesses have claimed the fire was sparked by a downed power line, and that it spread rapidly into nearby woodland. However, authorities have not confirmed the cause of the blaze.

The Andalusian regional government said six people were left injured by the fire. Among them, one was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, while another sustained burns. Four others were treated at the scene for minor burns and respiratory problems caused by heavy smoke.

The fire has forced the evacuation of around 1,000 residents, while emergency services have closed roads in the area as crews continue battling the flames.

Mr Moreno, president of the Andalusian regional government, called the incident a “tragedy” in a message on X, saying the municipalities are “shattered by grief.”

Around 150 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the blaze in the nearby hamlet of Bedar, with Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME), which responds to major emergencies, joining the firefighting effort.

The deadly wildfire comes as temperatures of around 40C continue to fuel major blazes across southern Europe.

Hundreds of firefighters are tackling fires in France, Portugal and Spain, while thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain would deploy its largest-ever summer wildfire response during the 2026 season, according to local media and AFP.

Spain has already endured an exceptionally hot summer , recording its highest daily average temperature since records began in 1950 in June, while also experiencing its hottest days ever for the month.

Temperatures as high as 42C (107.6F) were forecast in parts of the country.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), a record 393,000 hectares (971,000 acres) burned in Spain last year, more than six times the country’s average between 2006 and 2024.