At least 11 killed by wildfire in southern Spain
The cause of the blaze hasn't been determined but Spain has been one of many European nations hit by severe heat waves, with temperatures peaking at almost 106 in the country's south.
Updated on: July 10, 2026 / 9:39 AM EDT / CBS News
At least 11 people died in a wildfire Friday in the town of Los Gallardos in southern Spain, near the popular tourist city of Almeria, authorities said. Eight more were injured and 19 were unaccounted for.
Antonio Sanz, the regional health minister of Andalucia, the region where the fire raged, told a press briefing four of those who died appeared to be "of British origin" because they were in a vehicle whose steering wheel was on the right side, unlike vehicles used by the rest of Europe.
Regional President Juanma Moreno pointed out on a local radio show that "the majority" of those who were killed "were foreigners" and the process of identifying them was ongoing.
Sanz added that some of the victims lost their lives after "deciding to find a different path (out) on their own, other than the evacuation one" recommended by officials and wound up walking across a "dry riverbed" that in the end "became a real trap."