Spain's deadliest wildfires has been stabilized. Photo: Shutterstock Authorities in southern Spain have announced that the devastating Los Gallardos wildfire has been stabilized after an extensive firefighting effort involving hundreds of emergency personnel and dozens of aircraft.
Andalusian President Juanma Moreno confirmed the development, describing it as "the beginning of the end" for one of the fastest-moving wildfires in the region's history. "Stabilization marks the beginning of the end for one of the fastest fires in the history of Andalusia. Hope emerges in ground zero," Moreno said in a statement.
According to the Junta de Andalucía, firefighters succeeded in stabilizing the blaze after deploying an unprecedented emergency response. At the height of the operation, 32 aerial firefighting resources were operating simultaneously alongside around 500 emergency personnel on the ground.
Moreno praised the coordinated work of firefighters, emergency services, security forces, medical teams, military personnel, and volunteers who helped contain the wildfire. "We managed to deploy all the necessary resources to stabilize this fire. I congratulate and thank them all on behalf of all Andalusians for their work," he said.
The regional government has already lowered the emergency level for the incident, allowing approximately 1,000 evacuated residents to return to their homes. However, firefighting crews will remain in the area to monitor hotspots and prevent any flare-ups until the wildfire is fully extinguished.
Despite the positive development, Andalusian officials warned that the wildfire season is far from over.
Moreno said the region faces a particularly challenging summer due to extremely dry forests, urging the public to exercise maximum caution and strictly follow emergency instructions.
"A complicated summer lies ahead, with extremely dry forests. When instructions are given, they are not recommendations, they are orders for the safety of citizens and emergency teams," he emphasized.
The Los Gallardos wildfire, which swept through parts of Almería Province, has become one of Spain's deadliest wildfires in recent years. Authorities continue working to identify victims and investigate reports of missing persons while maintaining a strong emergency presence in the affected area.
In an update last week, Moreno confirmed that 19 people remain missing, at least 11 people have died, and eight people have been injured, including four in serious condition.