Spain battles to contain one of its deadliest wildfires as at least 12 killed
A devastating wildfire in Bedar, Spain, has resulted in at least 12 deaths, including several British nationals. Emergency services are struggling to contain the blaze, which was exacerbated by extreme heatwaves and dry conditions.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing danger of extreme weather events in Southern Europe and the challenges of emergency management during heatwaves.
Spain battles to contain one of its deadliest wildfires as at least 12 killed/SCREENGRAB
Emergency services in south-eastern Spain are working to contain pockets of fire after one of the country's worst ever wildfires.
Hundreds of firefighters and other specialists have been deployed around the village of Bedar where 12 people have been killed - among them four Britons, according to Spanish authorities. Another 23 people are still missing.
Local officials in the Los Gallardos area of Almería have warned the number of dead could rise, with fears that more Britons are among those killed.
A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across Southern Europe this summer, particularly in France, Portugal and Spain.
Soaring temperatures, incredibly dry ground and powerful winds led to the Los Gallardos fire spreading quickly on Thursday afternoon.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in