Spain Wildfire Horror: Los Gallardos Blaze Turns Deadly as Death Toll Climbs to 12 | Watch

The death count from a wildfire in Almeria in southern Spain rose to 12 after six more victims were found, authorities said Friday.

The death toll from the Los Gallardos wildfire in southern Spain has risen to 12 after six more victims were confirmed dead, regional authorities said on Friday. The fire in Almeria has emerged as the latest deadly wildfire to hit southern Europe as extreme heat and prolonged dry conditions leave several regions exposed to rapidly spreading blazes.

“The number of people who died in the fire in Los Gallardos has risen to 12 after the confirmation of six more deaths,” the regional government of Andalusia said in a statement. The latest announcement doubled the previously reported toll of six, marking a sharp escalation in the scale of the disaster.

Details concerning the identities of the six newly confirmed victims were not immediately released in the brief regional government update. Authorities also did not provide a detailed breakdown of the circumstances in which each of the 12 victims died.

The fire has struck Los Gallardos in Almeria, part of Spain’s southern Andalusia region. Emergency services have been dealing with the blaze as fire conditions across parts of the country remain difficult amid intense summer temperatures.

The Andalusian regional government confirmed the revised figure in a short statement. Further operational details, including the full extent of the affected area and the status of ongoing recovery work, are awaited. Authorities are expected to provide further information as emergency and investigative work progresses.

The deadly Almeria wildfire comes as parts of southern Europe battle a difficult fire season shaped by drought, intense heat and dry vegetation. France has also been dealing with major wildfires, including a large blaze in the Pyrénées-Orientales near the Spanish border.

At least 12,000 people were evacuated from 27 municipalities in the French region after flames spread across thousands of hectares. Hundreds of firefighters, firefighting aircraft and security personnel were deployed as authorities tried to contain the blaze and protect populated areas.

The wider emergency has also affected major public events. Tour de France organisers restricted spectator access along parts of the race route in the Pyrénées, keeping roads clear for cyclists, support teams and emergency vehicles operating near the wildfire zone.

Fire danger has remained elevated across large parts of France, where dozens of departments were placed under high or very high fire warnings. The European Union also sent firefighting aircraft from Sweden and Cyprus to assist French authorities.

(This is a developing story. Updates will be added subsequently.)