A devastating Spain wildfire has killed at least 11 people and left 19 others missing after a fast-moving blaze swept through the village of Bedar in the Los Gallardos district of Andalusia.
According to AFP, as reported by Channels Television, authorities believe many of the victims are foreign tourists, although officials are still working to confirm their identities.
Regional emergency minister Antonio Sanz said four of the victims were found inside a right-hand-drive vehicle, suggesting they may have been British nationals. However, their identities have not yet been officially confirmed.
The wildfire spread rapidly through rugged woodland after witnesses reported that a fallen power line ignited nearby scrubland. The difficult terrain, which includes ravines and homes surrounded by forest, hampered evacuation efforts.
Around 400 firefighters and military personnel were deployed to tackle the blaze, which has destroyed about 3,150 hectares of forest and farmland.
Emergency services received more than 150 calls as flames approached homes and a major highway. About 150 residents were evacuated and accommodated in a local cultural centre.
Authorities said eight people were injured, including four who remain in serious condition.
Andalusia regional president Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla confirmed that 19 people remain unaccounted for as rescue and search operations continue.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened and devastated” by the tragedy. Earlier this year, his government announced Spain’s largest-ever summer wildfire response amid growing concerns over increasingly severe fire seasons.
The disaster comes as Spain and neighbouring France endure another intense heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 40°C in parts of both countries. Scientists have linked the country’s increasingly frequent and prolonged heatwaves to worsening wildfire conditions.
Spain recorded its third-warmest year on record in 2025, while the European Forest Fire Information System reported that nearly 400,000 hectares of land were destroyed by wildfires across the country last year.
