Spain Wildfire Kills 12 As Heat Wave Intensifies
A wildfire in southern Spain's Almería province killed at least 12 people on July 10, with some victims found trapped in vehicles as the flames swept through forests amid an intense heat wave affecting much of Europe.
Spain's southern Andalusia region reported at least 12 deaths from a wildfire in Los Gálladrós, Almería province on July 10, with six others injured. Some victims were found inside vehicles engulfed by flames. Witnesses believe the fire was triggered by damaged electrical wires that rapidly spread to nearby forests, though authorities have not yet confirmed the actual cause.
The disaster strikes as Spain and much of Europe face severe, sustained heat waves that have sparked wildfires across southern European regions, including France, Portugal, and Spain. Local government head Juanma Moreno described it as a tragedy, with approximately 150 firefighters working to extinguish the blaze in a small village.
The fire has forced authorities to close multiple roads while over 1,000 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously announced that Spain would mobilize its largest wildfire response effort of this summer season.
June saw Spain record its highest average daily temperatures in 76 years, with some days breaking historical records for that month. Certain Spanish regions may experience temperatures as high as 42°C. In 2025, Spanish forests burned across 393,000 hectares—the highest figure on record—representing damage six times greater than Spain's 2016-2023 average.
The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) noted that this damage far exceeds historical norms, driven primarily by climate change, which has pushed global temperatures higher and made Europe the fastest-warming continent—warming at twice the global average rate.
