Spain Wildfires 2026

At least 13 people were killed in the Almería wildfire that broke out on July 9, 2026, near Los Gallardos in Andalusia. This makes it the deadliest wildfire in Andalusian recorded history and the third-deadliest in all of Spain's modern history. More than 17 people were injured and at least 10 remain missing. Source: Wikipedia, 2026 Almería wildfire.

Two major fires are burning simultaneously as of mid-July 2026. The largest in terms of casualties is in **Almería** (Andalusia, southeast Spain), near Los Gallardos. The largest in terms of area is in **Zaragoza / Cinco Villas** (Aragon, northeast Spain), which has consumed approximately 12,000 hectares with a perimeter of 60 km and forced evacuations across Ores, Asin, Luesia, Malpica de Arba, Uncastillo (Zaragoza) and Petilla de Aragon (Navarra). Sources: IndexBox, Euronews.

The Zaragoza / Cinco Villas fire alone burned approximately 12,000 hectares, making it the largest single wildfire of 2026 in Spain. Across all fires in Spain in 2026, nearly 50,000 hectares have burned in total, well above recent annual averages. Source: IndexBox.

The combination of an exceptionally severe European heatwave (with record temperatures across Spain and France since May 2026), prolonged drought, and strong southern winds created extreme wildfire conditions. Climate scientists note that heatwaves of this intensity, linked to a blocking high-pressure 'heat dome' funnelling North African air into Europe, are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, raising the wildfire risk baseline. Source: Euronews.

The Zaragoza/Cinco Villas fire forced the evacuation of six settlements: **Ores, Asin, Luesia, Malpica de Arba, and Uncastillo** in Zaragoza province, and **Petilla de Aragon** in Navarra. In Almería, more than **1,600 people** were evacuated from areas near Los Gallardos. Source: IndexBox.

More than **400 firefighters** and **19 aircraft** have been deployed to tackle the active fires in Zaragoza and Almería. Spain's civil protection agencies and the regional governments of Andalusia and Aragon have coordinated the response, with additional federal resources mobilised. Source: IndexBox.

Most of Spain's major tourist destinations (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Costa del Sol, Catalonia) are not directly affected by the active wildfires, which are concentrated in rural Almería and the Cinco Villas region of Aragon. However, heatwave alerts are in force across much of southern and eastern Spain. Tourists should check AEMET (Spain's national weather service) and local authority guidance, follow heat safety advice, and avoid approaching wildfire zones.

The 2026 season is already historically severe. The Almería fire is the deadliest in Andalusian history and the third-deadliest on record in Spain. The total area burned, nearly 50,000 hectares, is well above recent annual averages. The fires are being driven by the same climate conditions (record heatwaves, drought) that have made European wildfire seasons progressively worse over the past decade. Source: Euronews, IndexBox.

As of July 21, 2026, the Almería wildfire that broke out on July 9 near Los Gallardos was still under active management, though containment efforts were ongoing. The Zaragoza / Cinco Villas fire, at 12,000 hectares and with a 60 km perimeter, was also still active. For the current containment status, check Spain's Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) or regional emergency services, wildfire situations change rapidly. Source: IndexBox.