Authorities have completed the identification of all 13 people killed in the Los Gallardos wildfire. The fire, the deadliest in Andalucía, also destroyed 7,000 hectares. Families were notified in person by officials.
The identification process for all 13 victims of the Los Gallardos wildfire in Almería has concluded, marking a critical step in the aftermath of Andalucía’s most fatal fire to date. The blaze, which erupted last Thursday and rapidly consumed 7,000 hectares, left eight women and five men dead, all adults. The final three victims, whose identities were pending DNA confirmation, have now been officially named, according to the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía (TSJA).
Among the deceased are 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. The TSJA reported that families of the last three identified victims were notified in person by uniformed Guardia Civil officers, accompanied by a psychologist, underscoring the sensitivity of the process.
Due to the condition of the bodies, traditional autopsies were not possible. Instead, authorities relied on genetic identification, made possible by biological samples provided by relatives. This approach allowed for the accurate matching of DNA profiles, ensuring that each victim could be properly identified and their families informed.
The fire, which at its peak advanced at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, was declared under control by Monday afternoon. The rapid spread and high death toll have raised pressing questions about the emergency response. The first vice president of the Junta de Andalucía and emergency services minister, Antonio Sanz, is expected to address the regional parliament next week. He will be asked to clarify why the Es Alert system was not activated, whether all residents received timely instructions, and to provide details on the origin of the fire and the actual deployment of Infoca firefighting units.
So far, 12 official complaints have been filed, corresponding to the 12 victims who died during the fire itself. The incident has drawn significant attention to the protocols and resources available for wildfire emergencies in the region. For further background on the initial response and the identification process as it unfolded, see this earlier report on how authorities managed the 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 tragedy stands out not only for its death toll but also for the international profile of the victims, many of whom were foreign residents. The event has intensified scrutiny of emergency communication systems and the readiness of local firefighting resources. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding the failures and ensuring that future incidents can be managed with greater effectiveness and transparency.
