Winds intensified the flames that tore through forests and dry scrubland, parched by extreme heat, transforming charming rural villages into deserted ghost towns.

Authorities confirmed that twelve out of the thirteen victims of a devastating wildfire in Andalusia, southern Spain, were foreign nationals, following the completion of post-mortem analyses.

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In their statement, officials detailed that seven victims were from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, and one each from France and the United States. The remaining victim was Spanish.

«Among the 13 deceased are eight women and five men, all adults,» the public agency in charge of victim identification reported.

The Integrated Data Centre (CID) has noted an increase in missing-person reports, now totaling ten, after two new alerts were registered.

The fire erupted last Thursday in the scenic southeastern province of Almería, a region with a significant foreign resident population near the Mediterranean coastline.

Fueled by strong winds, the fire spread rapidly through forests and scrublands rendered extremely dry by soaring temperatures, turning tranquil rural areas into abandoned ghost towns.

Emergency crews initially recovered twelve bodies that suffered intense burns, requiring DNA testing for identification.

Regarded as one of the deadliest wildfires in Spain in recent history, the blaze was triggered by an electrical cable that fell onto a road, consuming about 7 square kilometres of land.

Authorities have since contained the fire, allowing residents to return to their homes from Sunday onward.

Spain has recently faced longer and more frequent heatwaves, with temperatures surpassing 40°C, conditions that heighten wildfire risks.

In 2025, wildfires destroyed over 393,000 hectares according to the European Forest Fire Information System, marking the highest loss in Spain’s recent records.

Additional sources • AFP