At least 12 killed, 23 missing in southern Spain wildfire
A deadly wildfire in southern Spain's Almeria province has resulted in at least 12 deaths and 23 missing persons. The fire, potentially sparked by a fallen power line, has consumed over 3,200 hectares amid extreme heat conditions.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Europe linked to climate change and extreme heat waves.
Several victims of the fire in the southern province of Almeria, a popular holiday destination, were found inside burnt-out vehicles and were thought to have died while trying to flee the flames.
Eight people have been injured and a further 23 are unaccounted for, Andalusia's regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said. Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain's military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which has consumed more than 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland.
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.
Crews battle deadly wildfires in southern Spain
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