Watch: Massive wildfire turns sky orange in southern Spain as death toll rises to 12

Visuals released by Andalusia’s emergency services show firefighters battling towering flames amid powerful winds, while other footage captures crews attempting to bring the blaze under control as thick smoke engulfs surrounding hillsides.

A massive wildfire in southern Spain has killed 12 people authorities confirmed on Friday, marking one of the country’s deadliest wildfires in recent years. The blaze, fuelled by extreme heat and dry conditions, has also left several people injured and forced evacuations as firefighters continue battling the fire.The fire has swept through the hamlet of Bedar in the Andalusia region. At least six other people were injured in the blaze, including a woman who suffered burns and another person treated for smoke inhalation. Both were taken to hospital.Dramatic visuals from the incident circulating on social media show the wildfire turning the sky a deep orange over large parts of the region. Minister of the presidency, health, and emergencies Antonio Sanz described the disaster as “the most devastating fire to date in our region” and called it “an unprecedented tragedy” as emergency services continue to battle the blaze as temperatures approached 40°C. Around 150 firefighters, backed by five fire engines, have been deployed, while Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) prepared to join the operation. Officials said several victims were found inside vehicles as they attempted to escape the fast-moving fire. Roads across the affected area remain closed, while residents from nearby communities have been evacuated. Around 50 displaced people are being sheltered in a local cultural centre as firefighters work to contain the inferno.Visuals released by Andalusia’s forest fire service, EMA Infoca, show the firefighters battling to protect the Pinar de Bédar neighbourhood as the wildfire continues to advance. Their efforts have been complicated by strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 50 km/h, which are fanning the flames and making containment operations more difficult. Authorities have not officially determined what sparked the wildfire. However, witnesses told emergency officials the blaze may have begun after a power line collapsed, igniting dry vegetation before rapidly spreading through surrounding woodland under extreme heat and windy conditions.Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was “deeply saddened and devastated by the terrible consequences of the wildfire.” Juanma Moreno, the head of the regional government of Andalusia, called the blaze “a tragedy.”“Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief,” he wrote on X.The wildfire comes as Spain endures another intense heatwave, with orange weather warnings, the country’s second-highest alert level, issued across parts of Andalusia in recent days. Temperatures have climbed close to 40C, creating ideal conditions for fires to spread rapidly.The latest disaster follows a string of major wildfires across southern Europe.Earlier this week, a wildfire in southern France forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from two dozen towns and villages near the Spanish border. Earlier this month, another major blaze near the Costa Brava prompted authorities to order residents in 10 municipalities, including the popular beach resort of Platja d’Aro, to remain indoors as strong winds intensified the fire.Spain has already announced its largest-ever summer wildfire response this year.

Speaking in May, Sanchez said the government would deploy record firefighting resources ahead of what experts warned could be another severe wildfire season. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 393,000 hectares of land burned across Spain in 2025, making it the country’s worst wildfire year in recent history.