During the night into Tuesday, 15 September 2026, a fire broke out in an informal shanty settlement in the municipality of Lucena del Puerto (province of Huelva, Andalusia). According to the emergency service 112 Andalucía one person died. The first reports were received at around 04:22, it said. Fire crews from the Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos de Huelva, the Guardia Civil and the Policía Local were quickly on the scene; the 061 ambulance service and the Cruz Roja also assisted with the response.
The Guardia Civil confirmed that the deceased person was found in the fire area. The authorities initially gave no information about the victim’s identity or the exact cause of the fire. Investigations are under way. Information on any other people injured was limited on Tuesday morning and was still being checked. Firefighters secured the area and began damping-down operations and an initial risk assessment in the early hours.
The incident took place in a camp of makeshift shelters described as an asentamiento chabolista, referred to in local reports as “La Sevillana” or located along the Camino del Alamillo. Such settlements often house seasonal workers and have experienced recurring fires in Huelva province for years. In previous incidents, numerous dwellings were destroyed and people were injured or killed. These events have repeatedly drawn the attention of the regional government and the Andalusian Ombudsman.
The Defensor del Pueblo Andaluz has long called for better coordination between municipalities, the province and the Junta de Andalucía, as well as preventive safety and support measures for residents of such camps. In the view of aid organisations, these should include, in particular, fire-safe cooking facilities, access to water and electricity, clear evacuation plans and faster temporary accommodation after fires. 112 Andalucía is responsible for coordinating the emergency response; the Guardia Civil and judicial authorities are responsible for investigating the cause and any possible criminal or regulatory consequences.
The immediate effects of the fire on the number of residents, accommodation and local healthcare remained unclear at first. In the morning, the authorities said reliable figures on the extent of the damage and the people affected would be provided later. Until then, the available information was based mainly on statements from 112 Andalucía, the emergency services involved and local authorities.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).