12 Dead in Los Gallardos Wildfire, Deadliest in 21st Century Spain

The wildfire in Los Gallardos (Almería) has become the deadliest forest fire in Spain this century, with at least 12 confirmed deaths and 23 people still missing Source: Infobae. The fire, which has burned over 3,200 hectares, prompted three days of official mourning in Andalusia Source: El Mundo.

What happened

The fire ignited early Friday morning and spread rapidly due to extreme temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds Source: ABC. The initial hypothesis points to a fallen electrical cable Source: El Mundo. Evacuations were hampered by the rugged terrain and dispersed housing Source: El Mundo. Victims included elderly and foreign nationals caught on rural roads Source: El Mundo.

Historical context

This tragedy surpasses the 2005 Riba de Saelices fire (11 fatalities) as the worst of the century Source: Infobae. It ranks among the deadliest overall, after Lloret de Mar 1979 (21 deaths) and La Gomera 1984 (20 deaths) Source: Euronews. The 1994 season was the deadliest year with 30 deaths Source: Euronews.

Reaction

Authorities continue search and rescue operations. The UME (Military Emergency Unit), created after the 2005 fire, is involved Source: Infobae. The tragedy has sparked calls for improved prevention and adaptation to climate change, which is expected to increase fire risk Source: El Mundo.