11 dead, 19 missing in wildfire in southern Spain:Heatwave and suspected power line collapse fuel devastating blaze

At least 11 people have died, and 19 others are missing after a massive wildfire swept through the Andalusia region in southern Spain. Hundreds of firefighters and emergency workers are battling the blaze, while thousands have been forced to leave their homes. Authorities say the fire may have started after a power line collapsed, although the exact cause is still under investigation. Andalusia’s regional leader Juanma Moreno confirmed the death toll and warned that it could rise. Another local official said early indications suggest that four of the victims were British nationals. The bodies of the 11 victims were found in and around the village of Bédar, near Los Gallardos in Almería province. Victims found in a car and while trying to escape Andalusia’s Health and Emergencies Minister Antonio Sanz said the fire spread rapidly and became extremely difficult to control. Four victims were found trapped inside a car, believed to have been right-hand drive, suggesting they were of British origin. Seven others were found in different locations, apparently while trying to escape the flames. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted regarding the reports. Power line collapse suspected as cause Juanma Moreno said initial findings suggest the wildfire may have started after a power line pole collapsed. However, he stressed that the cause is still under investigation. He said those responsible for maintaining the power infrastructure would be held accountable if negligence is found. Hundreds of emergency personnel deployed Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) deployed 220 soldiers and 70 vehicles to help control the wildfire. The Civil Guard also sent 160 officers to assist with evacuations, traffic management and the investigation into the cause of the fire. Around 1,000 residents were evacuated as roads in the affected area were closed. Several injured in the blaze Four people have been admitted to hospital with serious burns. Another four suffered minor burns and breathing difficulties caused by heavy smoke. Andalusia’s worst wildfire Antonio Sanz described the blaze as the most devastating wildfire ever recorded in Andalusia. Juanma Moreno called the deaths a tragedy and said the number of casualties could increase. Extreme heat fuels wildfires across southern Europe Spain has experienced an intense heatwave this summer, with temperatures reaching around 40°C. Firefighters have also been battling major wildfires in France and Portugal. Earlier this year, Spain recorded its hottest June day since records began in 1950, with temperatures reaching as high as 42°C in some areas. Climate change linked to worsening wildfire seasons According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), about 393,000 hectares of land burned in Spain last year, more than six times the country’s average between 2006 and 2024. Climate experts say rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and wildfires across Europe. The Copernicus Climate Service says Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, while researchers from the World Weather Attribution group have linked worsening Mediterranean wildfire seasons directly to climate change.