At least 12 people have died in a devastating forest fire in the Las Gayardos area of Almeria, Spain. Six others have been injured, and some of the deceased were found inside vehicles that were caught in the blaze. Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to bring the wildfire under control amid extreme heat and a scorching heatwave, which has also displaced thousands of residents.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started after a power line fell, quickly spreading to the nearby forest. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the exact cause of the fire. The ongoing heatwave, with temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius, has contributed to the spread of wildfires across various parts of southern Europe.
Firefighters from France, Portugal, and Spain are working to contain the blaze. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the fire. The regional chief of Andalusia expressed sorrow on the social media platform X, posting messages of condolence. Emergency services have reported multiple road closures, and around one thousand residents from the affected areas have been relocated to safer zones.
