No News on Missing Belgian Couple in Spain Wildfire

A Belgian couple remains among 23 people missing after a devastating wildfire tore through the Los Gallardos region of Almería, southern Spain, on 9 July 2026. As of 11 July, authorities have confirmed 12 deaths, but DNA analysis of severely burned bodies recovered from the area is still ongoing, prolonging an agonizing wait for families, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

The Wildfire

The fire ignited near Los Gallardos on the afternoon of 9 July and spread with extraordinary speed — covering approximately 15 kilometers in just two hours — driven by strong winds and extreme heat. By 11 July, it had burned roughly 6,600 hectares (16,000 acres) of land. The BBC News reported that the fire is among the deadliest in Spanish history, the worst in Andalusia.

The blaze reached the nearby hamlet of Bédar, population approximately 1,000, forcing mass evacuations. Some 1,448 people were evacuated, with over 180 rehoused in shelters. The rugged terrain — steep hills and dry ravines — hampered both evacuation and firefighting efforts. Victims who attempted to flee via dry ravines rather than official evacuation routes found themselves trapped as the fire funneled through.

The Missing Belgian Couple

Among the 23 people still unaccounted for is a Belgian couple who disappeared under unclear circumstances in the Bédar area. Belgian authorities have not been able to establish contact with them. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot confirmed that Belgians are among the missing but declined to give exact numbers “out of respect for the families,” as reported by VRT NWS.

“Our consular services are fully mobilized,” Prévot said. “They are doing everything possible to reach the Belgians with whom contact has not yet been made, and are available to anyone who has not heard from loved ones in the region.”

The Belgian consulate in Alicante remains in close contact with the Spanish crisis center.

Identification Challenges

Many of the recovered bodies are severely charred, making visual identification impossible. The Institute of Forensic Medicine of Almería had received six bodies as of 10 July, with none yet identified. DNA analysis is required and will take additional time, prolonging the wait for families desperate for answers.

Spanish authorities have confirmed that almost all of the victims are foreign nationals. At least four British nationals were found in a right-hand-drive vehicle. The Guardian reported that Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s emergency minister, described the fire as “the most devastating” the region had ever seen.

Cause Under Investigation

Witnesses reported a downed power line as the possible cause of the fire. However, electricity provider Endesa has denied responsibility, claiming the line was inactive and did not belong to them. The investigation into the exact cause remains ongoing.

Broader Context

The Los Gallardos wildfire is part of a devastating European wildfire season driven by extreme heatwaves. Western Europe recorded its hottest June ever measured in 2026. Spain recorded 1,028 heat-related fatalities, and Barcelona set a new heat record with temperatures of 40.5°C. France has seen over 25,000 hectares burned by wildfires since the start of the year — roughly double the previous year’s figure for the same period.

Reactions

The Andalusian regional government declared three days of official mourning. The European Union offered assistance via its Copernicus satellite program. A minute of silence was observed before the Spain vs. Belgium FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match on 11 July.

Analysis: Why the Fire Was So Deadly

Several factors converged to make this wildfire exceptionally deadly. The fire’s extraordinary speed — covering 15 km in just two hours — gave residents little time to escape. The rugged terrain of steep hills and ravines made evacuation routes treacherous and hampered firefighting vehicles. Some victims made the fatal decision to flee via dry ravines rather than official evacuation routes, which became “death traps” as the fire funneled through.

The disaster also highlights the vulnerability of tourist populations in fire-prone regions. Many victims were foreign nationals living in scattered rural properties unfamiliar with local evacuation procedures. As climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves across Europe, the risk of similar tragedies is growing.

What’s Next

As weather conditions improve, offering firefighters a “window of opportunity,” the fire is showing signs of easing. However, with 23 people still missing and DNA analysis yet to yield results, the death toll may rise further. Families of the missing Belgian couple — and others — continue to wait in anguish for answers that may take days or weeks to arrive.

This article was compiled from reporting by Het Laatste Nieuws, VRT NWS, BBC News, The Guardian, and Wikipedia.