Almería wildfire spread four times faster than normal, killing 13

The wildfire that swept through Los Gallardos (Almería) on July 9, 2026, killing 13 people, spread at 128 meters per minute — four times faster than standard scientific models predict, according to Vice President of Andalusia Antonio Sanz.

The fire's spread

Sanz stated that normal fires advance at 10% of wind speed, but this blaze accelerated to 128 m/min despite wind gusts of 50 km/h Source: infobae. The fire ignited at 16:25 after a fallen electrical cable sparked the blaze, and within minutes fire crews, Guardia Civil, and Infoca resources were mobilized Source: euronewses. Extreme weather — temperatures above 40°C, strong winds, and low humidity — made the fire behave unpredictably, Sanz noted Source: euronewses. The fire has so far burned some 5,200 hectares and is still not fully contained.

Response and investigation

Sanz defended the decision not to activate the ES-Alert mass mobile warning system, arguing that different areas needed different instructions (evacuation vs. confinement) and a single message could cause confusion Source: euronewses. Meanwhile, the Guardia Civil and forest agents continue investigating the fire's cause.