Southern Spain blaze burns 7,000 hectares, dozens injured

A fast‑spreading fire in the autonomous community of Andalusia has ravaged about 7,000 hectares of forestland in the Almería province. The incident left 13 dead and injured seven more, three of whom are in intensive care.

The fire, which began near Los Gallardos, forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Emergency teams have now declared that the flames are confined within their original perimeter.

Local authorities have announced that the emergency response level will be lowered, enabling around 1,000 people to return to their homes after a temporary ban. Earlier on Saturday, 600 residents were permitted to re‑enter their houses.

The precise trigger of the blaze is still being probed, with officials suspecting a downed power line or pole as a possible source. The situation underscores growing concerns about the impact of climate change on wildfire frequency and intensity.