Spain wildfire death toll rises to 13 in Almeria, blaze stabilised
Synopsis
A wildfire near Los Gallardos in Spain's Almeria province has killed 13 people and burned through 7,000 hectares before being stabilised on Sunday. With 10 people still missing and three hospitalised in serious condition, the human toll remains incomplete — and Andalusia's regional chief has called it the worst blaze in the region's recent history, linking it directly to climate change.
Key Takeaways
The Almeria wildfire has killed 13 people and burned approximately 7,000 hectares since breaking out on Thursday near Los Gallardos .
Seven people remain hospitalised, three in serious condition.
10 people officially registered as missing are still unaccounted for.
Roughly 1,000 evacuees have been authorised to return home after the blaze was stabilised on Sunday, 13 July .
Andalusia regional chief Juanma Moreno called it the most serious wildfire in the region's recent history and linked it to climate change.
The cause remains under investigation; the leading hypothesis is the collapse of an electricity pole or cable.
A wildfire in Spain's southeastern province of Almeria has claimed 13 lives, with regional authorities confirming on Sunday, 13 July that the blaze had been stabilised and its perimeter contained. Seven injured persons remained hospitalised, three of them in serious condition, according to the latest official data.
Scale of the Disaster
The fire broke out on Thursday near the Los Gallardos municipality in Almeria, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. By the time authorities announced stabilisation, the blaze had scorched approximately 7,000 hectares of land. Many of those affected are reportedly foreign nationals, according to Spain's public broadcaster RTVE.
As of Sunday, 10 people officially registered as missing remained unaccounted for, keeping pressure on search and rescue teams even as emergency response levels were scaled back.
Evacuees Allowed to Return
The stabilisation of the fire allowed authorities to authorise the remaining roughly 1,000 evacuees to return to their homes. Around 600 residents had already been permitted back on Saturday. The lowering of the emergency response level signals a cautious but meaningful turning point in the crisis, though officials stressed that the fire had not yet been declared fully controlled or extinguished.
What the Regional Government Said
Juanma Moreno, head of the regional government of Andalusia, confirmed on Sunday that the wildfire was no longer advancing and had been contained within its perimeter. He cautioned, however, that further work remained before the blaze could be declared fully extinguished.
Moreno described the fire as 'the most serious in Andalusia's recent history' and urged both the public and authorities to take climate change 'very seriously.' He warned that climate change was generating increasingly complex conditions and wildfires of unprecedented scale that were becoming ever more difficult to combat.
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. The primary hypothesis, according to officials, is that it may have been triggered by the collapse of an electricity pole or cable. No formal conclusion has been reached, and investigators continue to examine the site.
This comes amid a broader pattern of extreme wildfire seasons across southern Europe, where rising temperatures and prolonged drought have made regions like Andalusia increasingly vulnerable. The Almeria fire is the latest in a series of large-scale blazes that have tested emergency response capacity across the continent in recent summers.
Point of View
Not merely a background factor. That political framing matters: it shifts the conversation from emergency response to long-term land management, grid infrastructure safety, and adaptation investment. With 10 people still missing and the cause officially unresolved, the full human and institutional reckoning from this fire is not yet complete.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have died in the Spain Almeria wildfire?
The death toll from the Almeria wildfire has risen to 13, according to regional authorities. Seven others remain hospitalised, including three in serious condition, and 10 people are still officially listed as missing.
Where did the Spain wildfire break out?
The wildfire broke out on Thursday near the Los Gallardos municipality in Almeria province, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It burned through approximately 7,000 hectares before being stabilised.
Has the Almeria wildfire been contained?
Regional authorities confirmed on Sunday, 13 July that the blaze had been stabilised and was no longer advancing. However, Andalusia's regional chief Juanma Moreno cautioned that further work was needed before the fire could be declared fully controlled and extinguished.
What caused the Almeria wildfire in Spain?
The cause remains under official investigation. The primary hypothesis is that the fire may have been triggered by the collapse of an electricity pole or cable, though no formal conclusion has been announced.
Who is affected by the Almeria wildfire?
Residents of the Los Gallardos area and surrounding communities in Almeria were evacuated, with roughly 1,000 people displaced at the peak. Spain's public broadcaster RTVE reported that many of those affected are foreign nationals. About 600 residents were allowed to return on Saturday, with the remainder cleared to go home after stabilisation on Sunday.
