At least 12 people have died and 23 are missing in a wildfire in southern Spain
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One of Spain's deadliest wildfires on record killed 12 people on Friday night, authorities said, as soaring temperatures gripped much of the country.
Several victims of the fire in the southern state of Almeria, a popular holiday destination, were found inside burnt-out cars and are believed to have died trying to escape the flames.
Eight people were injured and 23 others are still missing, said the regional leader of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno. About 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain's emergency military unit are battling the blaze, which has burned more than 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland.
The fire broke out in a valley in the desert near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, but said callers reported that a downed power line started the fire, which quickly spread to a nearby forest.
Victims escape 'death trap'
Most of the victims died when they tried to escape and ignored evacuation orders, said Antonio Sanz, president of emergency services in Andalusia. One group did this by using a dry riverbed, which “turned into a death trap,” he said.
Seven people died on foot after abandoning their cars, said Sanz, who may have been looking for a way out.
“The results have been very bad. Everything seems to indicate that, in the case of the deceased … we are dealing mostly with outsiders, if not completely,” said Sanz.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his sadness, writing in X “with great sadness and devastation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria.”
Spain has battled frequent and intense heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 C. Wind, high temperatures and little rain help small wildfires grow into unstoppable flames.
In June, Spain experienced several days of record heat, with more than 1,000 heat-related deaths.
Parts of Western Europe are experiencing their third heat wave in six weeks.
Europe is the world's hottest continent, with temperatures rising at twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Globally, 2025 was the third hottest year on record, bringing several extreme heat waves across Europe.
Scientists warn that climate change, caused in part by the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline, oil and coal, is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat and drought, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires.
