LOS GALLARDOS, Spain — At least 11 people have died and six have been injured in a wildfire in southern Spain, the Andalusian regional government has said. Some 150 firefighters are working to contain the blaze, which witnesses said was caused by a downed power line before spreading to a wooded area in Los Gallardos, Almería. Authorities have not confirmed the cause. A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40°C (104°F) has caused wildfires across southern Europe.
The bodies of 11 victims were found in the small village of Bédar. Health and Emergencies Minister Antonio Sanz said the fire had been “complex and rapid.” Four people were found in their car, while other victims were found elsewhere apparently trying to escape the flames. Regional leader Juanma Moreno called the deaths “a tragedy”: “Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief.” The fire led to road closures, while 1,000 residents were evacuated. Among the injured, one person was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, and another suffered burns. Four were treated at the scene.
Spain deployed its largest-ever summer wildfire response this year. In June, Spain reached its highest daily average since 1950. Temperatures as high as 42°C (107.6°F) were forecast in some areas. Last year, a record 393,000 hectares burned in Spain, more than six times the Spanish average. Europe is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average. Last year was the EU’s worst wildfire season since 2006. The worsening fire season has been directly linked to climate change by the World Weather Attribution group.