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Spanish authorities have confirmed that 12 of the 13 people killed in a devastating wildfire in southern Spain were foreign nationals, following the completion of post-mortem examinations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, officials said the victims included seven from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, and one each from France and the United States. The remaining victim was a Spanish citizen.
Authorities added that all 13 killed were adults—eight women and five men.
The fire broke out last Thursday in Almeria province, a scenic area in Andalusia known for its large foreign resident population along the Mediterranean coast.
Fueled by strong winds and extreme heat, the blaze tore through burned forests and scrubland, turning quiet rural communities into near-deserted area.
Emergency teams initially recovered 12 bodies that were severely burned, requiring DNA analysis for identification.
The wildfire, reportedly triggered by a fallen electrical cable, scorched around 7,000 hectares (over 17,000 acres) of land, making it one of the deadliest in Spain in recent years.
The fire has since been brought under control, and displaced residents began returning home from Sunday.
Spain has faced increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C—conditions that heighten the risk of large-scale wildfires.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 393,000 hectares were destroyed by wildfires in Spain in 2025, marking the highest level in recent history.
