DNA confirmation has established the identities of the final victims among the 13 people counted as killed in the Los Gallardos wildfire in Almería, Andalucía’s deadliest fire to date. The blaze erupted last Thursday and burned approximately 7,000 hectares, leaving eight women and five men dead, all adults. The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía (TSJA) reported that the final three victims, whose identities had been pending DNA confirmation, were officially named.
Among the deceased were five British citizens, three Belgians, one Spaniard and one French woman. The last three identified were women, two from the United Kingdom and one from the United States. One British victim died after being hospitalized at Torrecárdenas in Almería. Uniformed Guardia Civil officers, accompanied by a psychologist, notified the families of the final three victims in person, information from the TSJA.
Traditional autopsies were not possible because of the condition of the bodies. Instead, authorities used biological samples provided by relatives to compare DNA profiles and identify the victims.
Later reports put the fatality count at 15: Canal Sur and El Correo de Andalucía reported that total, which includes victims who died after the fire. Local daily Ideal reported that Lisa died 19 days after being rescued with severe burns. Canal Sur’s account also reflected the fire’s international toll, saying most of those killed were foreign residents who had settled in the area.
At its peak, the fire advanced at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Authorities declared it under control by Monday afternoon, and it ultimately affected about 7,000 hectares. The incident reached operational level 2, a classification associated with the intervention of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME). It was one of three fires in Andalucía’s 2026 high-risk season to reach that level; 19 incidents reached operational level 1.
The disaster’s scale formed part of an exceptionally severe season across the region. Andalucía recorded 58,735 hectares burned and 6,444 people evacuated, moved away from danger or confined because of fire or smoke. The regional season review attributed more than 94% of fires to human activity, including intentional acts and negligence, with accidents also among the causes. It classified 2.94% as natural in origin. Those season-wide figures do not determine the cause of the Los Gallardos fire.
The fire’s rapid spread and high death toll have raised questions about the emergency response. Antonio Sanz, first vice president of the Junta de Andalucía and the regional minister responsible for emergencies, is expected to address the regional parliament next week. He will be asked why the Es Alert system was not activated, whether residents received timely instructions, and about the fire’s origin and the deployment of Infoca firefighting units. In a briefing on the wider season, Sanz said natural emergencies were becoming more intense, with behavior “never seen before,” adding: “This exceptional nature is here to stay; it is a new reality.”
So far, 12 official complaints have been filed, corresponding to the 12 victims who died during the fire itself. The incident has drawn attention to the protocols and resources available for wildfire emergencies in the region. Regional reporting also recorded that Los Gallardos affected neighboring municipalities, including Bédar, and forced residents from their homes. Garrucha is preparing a catastrophe-response plan following renewed calls for stronger coordination in major emergencies.
For more background on the initial response and identification process, see this earlier report on how authorities managed containment and victim identification: Andalusian authorities contain Los Gallardos fire as victim identification advances.
Wildfires are a recurring threat in southern Spain, particularly during the dry summer months. The Los Gallardos fire stands out for its death toll and the international profile of the victims, many of whom were foreign residents. The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of emergency communication systems and local firefighting resources, while the investigation continues to examine the response and the fire’s origin.
