In brief
A fierce wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almería, Spain has caused 12 deaths and six injuries, with victims found inside vehicles that burned. The blaze was reportedly ignited by a downed power line and spread rapidly across the wooded area, as temperatures hovered around 40 °C. A record heatwave has triggered major fires across France, Portugal and Spain, forcing thousands to flee and prompting the deployment of Spain’s largest-ever fire‑fighting response, including military units. Spain’s 2026 summer was the hottest since 1950, reaching 42 °C, and the country previously burned 393,000 hectares—a figure more than six times the historical average. Experts warn that such severe, frequent fires are likely to increase as Europe continues to warm under climate change, threatening communities and ecosystems alike.
A devastating wildfire in Los Gallardos, in the southeastern province of Almería, has claimed 12 lives and injured six people, officials announced. Victims were found inside vehicles engulfed by the flames, and witnesses cite a downed power line as the probable spark, though the cause has not yet been confirmed.
The blaze erupted amid a relentless heatwave that has brought temperatures near 40 °C (104 °F) across southern Europe. Major incidents are raging in France, Portugal and Spain, forcing thousands to abandon their homes and disrupting road networks.
Firefighters, numbering around 150, are battling the inferno in the hamlet of Bedar. Some are suffering smoke inhalation and burns, and four others received treatment for minor injuries on site. The Spanish military emergency unit, the UME, has been summoned to support the firefighting effort.
The Andalusian government declared the deaths a tragedy, with regional leader Juanma Moreno expressing deep sorrow in a statement and on X.
Spain’s summer battle plan is the largest ever: in May, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promised a massive wildfire response, and the country is already recording its highest daily average temperature since 1950, with some areas forecast to hit 42 °C.
Last year’s fires scorched 393,000 hectares—over six times the Spanish average from 2006–2024—making it the EU’s worst wildfire season on record. Europe, warming twice faster than the global average, now sees more frequent, intense heatwaves and wildfires, which in turn strain water supplies and threaten lives and vegetation.
Climate‑science studies link the Mediterranean fire season directly to rising temperatures and suspect that such blazes will continue without decisive mitigation, according to a World Weather Attribution study from Imperial College London.
The Los Gallardos incident underscores the urgency of adapting to climate change, bolstering firefighting resources and bolstering community resilience across vulnerable regions.
