Almera: Wildfires in southern Spain have claimed the lives of 12 people. The Andalusian regional emergency services reported today that 12 people have died in a wildfire in the southern Spanish town of Almera, with 150 firefighters currently battling the blaze.
According to Thai News Agency, Antonio Sanz, the Minister of Health and Emergency Situations, described the event as the most devastating wildfire ever to occur in the region and described the situation as an unprecedented tragedy. Previously, the death toll from the wildfire had been reported at six.
This fire follows an uncontrolled wildfire in southern France earlier this week that forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from approximately 24 towns and villages near the Spanish border. The early summer heatwave that swept across Western Europe in May and June resulted in widespread drought conditions, making these areas particularly vulnerable to wildfires this year.
The World Meteorological Organization states that Europe is experiencing rising temperatures at a rate more than twice the global average, increasing the likelihood of prolonged heatwaves.