12 killed and 23 missing, including foreigners, in forest fire in southern Spain

At least 12 people died in a fast-moving wildfire that swept through a tourist area in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, authorities announced on Friday, noting that several victims were found inside their vehicles and are believed to be foreign tourists.

The number of missing persons rose from 19 to 23 following the fire, which broke out on Thursday and consumed forests and vast areas of dry vegetation in the Los Alcornocales area, according to Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, president of the Andalusian regional government.

The Andalusian regional government president said that four of the victims were in a right-hand-drive vehicle, suggesting it came from outside Spain. He told a local radio station, “They appear to be British and burned to death inside the car.”

King Felipe VI, his wife Queen Letizia, and their two daughters observed a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the fire, which is among the worst in Spain in recent years.

Approximately 500 firefighters, supported by Spain’s military emergency unit, were deployed to combat the blaze and search for victims. Around 800 people were evacuated, including about 200 who were moved to temporary shelters.

AFP correspondents observed firefighters battling the flames in the countryside, with plumes of white smoke rising into the sky.

Authorities believe some of the victims were foreigners in the village of Vejer de la Frontera, known for its white walls in the Los Alcornocales area.

Vejer de la Frontera is located about 15 kilometers from the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It is visited by many foreign residents and tourists seeking a quieter alternative to the nearby beach resorts.

Vejer de la Frontera Mayor Angel Francisco Collado said he urged some residents to evacuate their homes, “even those who did not want to leave.”

Witnesses said the fire may have been caused by a fallen power line igniting dry vegetation, but no official confirmation has been issued yet.

Antonio Sanz, the Andalusian official in charge of emergency situations, said in a video posted on the X platform that “all indications suggest that the victims, most or all of them, are foreigners.”

He added that the fire was “extremely complex and fast-moving,” as it broke out in an area with many valleys where it is difficult to use heavy machinery, and where houses are located in forested areas.

The Andalusian government announced that emergency teams received more than 150 reports of the fire, and that flames were visible from a main road passing near the village.

Sanz reported that the fire burned approximately 3,150 hectares (7,780 acres) of forests and agricultural land.

Prime Minister Sanchez had announced in May that Spain would deploy its largest wildfire response force in history for the summer season this year.

Repeated heat waves in recent years have seen temperatures occasionally exceed 40 degrees Celsius, creating favorable conditions for massive wildfires.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 393,000 hectares burned in Spain in 2025, making it the worst year for wildfires in the country’s modern history.