Devastating Spain Wildfire Claims 11 Lives, 19 Unaccounted For as Firefighters Battle the Blaze

The devastating wildfire in Los Gallardos, in Spain's southern province of Almería, has claimed at least 11 lives, with 19 people still unaccounted for, according to the latest update from Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno.

The fire broke out on Thursday, July 9, 2026, triggering a major emergency response as flames spread rapidly through the area. Firefighters and emergency crews began evacuating residents while authorities worked to protect nearby communities.

As the scale of the disaster became clear, the Guardia Civil established an Office for Reports of Missing Family Members at its station in La Garrucha. The office was created to receive reports of missing people and collect DNA samples from close relatives to help identify victims.

Devastating wildfire in Spain kills 11. Photo: Shutterstock

The Civil Guard also deployed its Major Catastrophes Team, together with Reserve and Security Group officers, Traffic Unit personnel, and Public Safety patrols. Investigators simultaneously launched an investigation into the cause of the wildfire.

Authorities later confirmed that more than 160 Guardia Civil officers had been assigned to the emergency operation, carrying out evacuations, protecting homes and infrastructure, regulating traffic, assisting displaced residents, and securing evacuated areas.

As conditions worsened, officials closed the AL-6109 road between kilometer markers 0 and 18.130, urging motorists to avoid the area because of smoke and poor visibility.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez subsequently announced that the national government had mobilized all available resources, including the Military Emergency Unit (UME), while expressing condolences to the victims' families and urging the public to follow emergency instructions.

According to the Spanish government, the national response includes 160 Guardia Civil personnel, 220 UME members, four amphibious firefighting aircraft, one helicopter from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, and Civil Protection teams.

In the latest update, Juanma Moreno said he was traveling to Almería as the disaster continued to unfold.

"The consequences of the Los Gallardos wildfire are devastating," Moreno said, confirming that 19 people remain missing, at least 11 people have died, and eight people have been injured, including four in serious condition.

Moreno said all available resources are focused on caring for those affected while emergency crews continue working "tirelessly" to bring the wildfire under control. He also urged residents to exercise extreme caution as firefighting operations continue.

At the beginning of the month, neighboring Portugal also entered a state of alert until July 6 as extreme wildfire conditions prompted travel warnings, forest access bans, and emergency restrictions.

Greece also urged travelers to stay alert after firefighters responded to 40 wildfires in just 24 hours at the start of July, warning tourists that the danger of wildfires is great through October.