Spain Wildfire: Firefighters Gain Ground as Almería Evacuees Return Home
The wildfire that ravaged Almería province in Spain showed signs of receding on Sunday 12 July 2026, allowing firefighters to shift their focus from containment to tackling the remaining hotspots.
Civil Guard officers rescued a dog from a fire-damaged home in Bédar as police maintained roadblocks in the area.
The scorched landscape around Almocaizar, one of Spain’s deadliest wildfires in recent years, left behind burnt-out vehicles and blackened hillsides.
Regional president Juan Manuel Moreno declared the blaze had been stabilised, paving the way for the gradual return of around 1,500 evacuated residents.
The fire, which ignited on 9 July near the Sierra de los Filabres, claimed at least 12 lives and ravaged approximately 66 square kilometres, an area similar in size to Manhattan.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles praised the tireless efforts of firefighters and local officials during the emergency, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the affected area on Monday.
The disaster unfolded amidst western Europe’s third heatwave in six weeks, with the continent experiencing temperatures twice the global average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
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