MADRID (AP) 鈥� A wildfire killed 12 people in southern Spain as soaring temperatures gripped much of the country, Spanish authorities said early Friday.
Several victims of the fire in Los Gallardos were found inside burnt-out vehicles, local media reported. Six others have been injured in the blaze, which 150 firefighters were battling.
The fire broke out in a hamlet in a semi-arid area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains. Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire, but said people who called to report it said that a fallen power line had sparked a blaze that spread rapidly into a nearby forest.
Spain鈥檚 military emergency unit, which is deployed in major emergencies, was due to join firefighting efforts in the coming hours.
The fire also led to road closures, while 1,000 residents were evacuated, according to emergency services.
Regional authorities said the fire was the deadliest the region had seen to date.
Juan Manuel Moreno, the regional leader of the southern Andalusia region, wrote on X that 鈥淥ur hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief.”
Spain has battled frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40掳C (104掳F). Wind, high temperatures and little rainfall help small wildfire grow into unchecked blazes.
In June, Spain , with over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.
Parts of Western Europe are facing their third heatwave in six weeks.
Europe is the world鈥檚 fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union鈥檚 Copernicus Climate Change Service. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record, bringing several intense heatwaves across Europe.
Scientists warn that climate change caused in part by the burning of fuels like gasoline, oil and coal is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires.
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