In brief
A wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almería, has claimed twelve lives and injured six, with victims found in burned vehicles. The blaze, allegedly sparked by a downed power line, spread rapidly into nearby woods during an extreme heatwave that has set record temperatures across southern Europe. Hundreds of firefighters are battling multiple major fires in Spain, France and Portugal as climate‑driven heat intensifies. Spanish officials and the military emergency unit are mobilized as the country faces its worst wildfire season in decades.
A tragic blaze in the southeastern province of Almería has claimed twelve victims and wounded six. The victims were trapped in vehicles consumed by the fire, according to witnesses who say a downed power line may have triggered the inferno.
The incident unfolded amid a relentless heatwave that has pushed temperatures to around 40°C (104°F) across southern Europe, feeding a string of wildfires in Spain, France and Portugal. The region’s firefighters and military emergency unit are on the frontlines, racing to stem the damage.
Juanma Moreno, head of the Andalusian regional government, described the deaths as a “tragedy” and expressed deep sorrow. His message on X highlighted the collective heartache felt by the community.
More than 150 firefighters were engaged in the fight at the hamlet of Bedar, where two soldiers were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and burns. Minor injuries were treated on scene for several other workers.
Roads were shut and 1,000 residents evacuated as emergency services battled the spreading heat. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced the deployment of a largest‑ever summer wildfire response force, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Spain recorded its hottest June of any year since records began in 1950, with peaks in some areas surpassing 42°C (107.6°F). Last year’s fires consumed 393,000 hectares, over six times the historical average for the region.
Experts link this surge in destructive wildfires to climate change, noting that Europe’s warming rate is twice the global average. The trend of intense summer heat and greater fire frequency is expected to persist in the future.
