At least 12 people died while trying to escape a wildfire in southern Spain, and 23 others were reported missing on Friday, while firefighters were still battling to control one of the deadliest blazes in the country. The wildfire started in the Los Gallardos area of Almería, a few kilometres inland from the Mediterranean coast. Officials said they have never had such a devastating fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the families of the ⁠victims and said he felt “enormous sadness and devastation."&nbsp;Andalusia’s regional leader Juanma Moreno said in a news conference Friday that at least 23 people remain missing.&nbsp;Regional officials say most or all of the victims were foreign nationals living in the area. The toll may go up, said media reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | A wildfire killed 12 people in Almeria in southern Spain as soaring temperatures gripped much of the country, Spanish authorities said Friday. Several victims of the Los Gallardos fire were found inside burnt-out vehicles, local media reported. Some 150 firefighters were… <a href="https://t.co/VzF73H70H2">pic.twitter.com/VzF73H70H2</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2075528982897086608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-death-to-come-on-my-own-soil-sheikh-hasina-party-leaders-to-return-surrender-in-december-1783679799431">‘Want death to come on my own soil’: Sheikh Hasina says will return, surrender in December</a><h2>Four victims found in one car believed to be of British origin</h2>&nbsp;Four of the victims were in one car, and officials believe them to be of British origin, as their car had a steering wheel on the right-hand side. The other seven victims were part of a separate group.Local emergencies minister Antonio Sanz said those who died were trying to leave the village and were trapped by flames. They were not following the evacuation route shared by authorities. “The consequences have been terrible,” Sanz said.&nbsp;Seven others were found dead after apparently abandoning ⁠their cars and attempting to escape on foot along a route that was not part of the evacuation plan.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-hiv-outbreak-health-minister-mustafa-kamal-blames-night-party-goers-for-child-infections-1783677297132">Pakistan HIV outbreak: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal blames 'night party goers' for infections</a>&nbsp;Although 19 people have been reported missing, authorities say it is possible they have sought refuge with family or friends. Reports said that one Spaniard was among the victims.The area is a popular holiday destination and home to many foreigners, especially the French, Britons, and Belgians.&nbsp;<h2>Early summer heatwaves left large parts of Spain parched and vulnerable</h2>&nbsp;Early summer heatwaves left large parts of Spain parched and vulnerable to any spark, triggering an early start to wildfire season.So far this year, about 57,000 hectares (140,850 acres) have burned, about half the annual average for the past two decades and making up 40% of all the area burned in the European Union, said European Forest Fire Information System.Last year, a record heatwave in August provoked the worst wildfire season in three decades, charring 330,000 hectares, an area twice the size ⁠of London.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-blames-karur-police-for-41-stampede-deaths-alleges-conspiracy-1781171238989">CM Vijay blames Karur Police for 41 stampede deaths, alleges conspiracy</a>&nbsp;As authorities sought to identify the dead and track down the missing, anxious relatives from around the world posted messages on social media and local forums.&nbsp;<h2>UK Foreign Office in touch with Spain govt</h2>&nbsp;The UK Foreign Office has said that it is in contact with authorities in Spain after reports said that four British people may have been killed in the fire.“I’m aware of those reports, and the Foreign Office are in touch with the relevant authorities in Spain,” said a No 10 spokeswoman.&nbsp;The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says that Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing more than twice as fast as the global average.

Regional officials say most or all of the victims were foreign nationals living in the area. The toll may rise, said some media reports. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the families of the ⁠victims and said he felt “enormous sadness and devastation."

At least 12 people died while trying to escape a wildfire in southern Spain, and 23 others were reported missing on Friday, while firefighters were still battling to control one of the deadliest blazes in the country. The wildfire started in the Los Gallardos area of Almería, a few kilometres inland from the Mediterranean coast. Officials said they have never had such a devastating fire. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the families of the ⁠victims and said he felt “enormous sadness and devastation." Andalusia’s regional leader Juanma Moreno said in a news conference Friday that at least 23 people remain missing. Regional officials say most or all of the victims were foreign nationals living in the area. The toll may go up, said media reports.

Regional officials say most or all of the victims were foreign nationals living in the area. The toll may rise, said some media reports. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the families of the ⁠victims and said he felt “enormous sadness and devastation."

Foreigners among 12 killed, 23 missing in Spain’s devastating wildfire; toll may go up

The European heatwave caused more than 1,000 deaths in Spain, officials stated on Wednesday (July 1). This coincides with the country recording its hottest first six months ever. According to the Carlos III Health Institute, heat-related issues during this period resulted in at least 1,028 fatalities. This toll is more than double the 407 heat-attributed deaths recorded in June 2025, which the national weather agency, AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología), noted was previously Spain's hottest June on record.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-heatwave-paris-mortuaries-overwhelmed-after-record-heatwave-1782808031234/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-heatwave-paris-mortuaries-overwhelmed-after-record-heatwave-1782808031234/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;AEMET reported on X on Wednesday (July 1) that the first six months of 2026 were Spain's warmest first half of a year since records began, with average temperatures reaching 1.6°C above normal levels. The agency highlighted that the seven hottest first semesters have all occurred within the past decade. Furthermore, June 2026 was designated as the second-warmest June on record, featuring average temperatures that soared 3.2°C above the norm.&nbsp;The severe heatwave, which began scorching Europe in late June, was identified by the World Weather Attribution group of scientists as the most intense ever recorded on the continent. The group stated that experiencing such extreme conditions in June would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of climate change.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-parisians-are-abandoning-their-homes-and-heading-outdoors-during-the-deadly-heatwave-wion-decodes-1782535651165">Why Parisians are abandoning their homes and heading outdoors during the deadly heatwave | WION Decodes</a>&nbsp;The extreme weather broke records across the continent. All-time temperature highs were shattered in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Additionally, the United Kingdom and Switzerland broke their respective temperature records for the month of June. Meanwhile, France encountered record-breaking average temperatures and experienced its highest-ever nighttime temperatures.&nbsp;A severe, record-breaking heatwave in France, marking the hottest since 1947. The extreme weather has forced major Paris tourist attractions to close early. The decision has disrupted vacations for thousands of visitors. More than half of mainland France is currently under the highest weather alert level. Tourists are experiencing widespread disappointment as they cope with suffocating conditions on the streets, in the subway, and in non-air-conditioned rentals.&nbsp;

Spain records its hottest first six months ever as heatwave fatalities surpass 1,028—more than double the death toll from the same period last year.

The European heatwave caused more than 1,000 deaths in Spain, officials stated on Wednesday (July 1). This coincides with the country recording its hottest first six months ever. According to the Carlos III Health Institute, heat-related issues during this period resulted in at least 1,028 fatalities. This toll is more than double the 407 heat-attributed deaths recorded in June 2025, which the national weather agency, AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología), noted was previously Spain's hottest June on record. https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-heatwave-paris-mortuaries-overwhelmed-after-record-heatwave-1782808031234/embed AEMET reported on X on Wednesday (July 1) that the first six months of 2026 were Spain's warmest first half of a year since records began, with average temperatures reaching 1.6°C above normal levels. The agency highlighted that the seven hottest first semesters have all occurred within the past decade. Furthermore, June 2026 was designated as the second-warmest June on record, featuring average temperatures that soared 3.2°C above the norm. The severe heatwave, which began scorching Europe in late June, was identified by the World Weather Attribution group of scientists as the most intense ever recorded on the continent. The group stated that experiencing such extreme conditions in June would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of climate change. Also read: Why Parisians are abandoning their homes and heading outdoors during the deadly heatwave | WION Decodes The extreme weather broke records across the continent. All-time temperature highs were shattered in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Additionally, the United Kingdom and Switzerland broke their respective temperature records for the month of June. Meanwhile, France encountered record-breaking average temperatures and experienced its highest-ever nighttime temperatures. A severe, record-breaking heatwave in France, marking the hottest since 1947. The extreme weather has forced major Paris tourist attractions to close early. The decision has disrupted vacations for thousands of visitors. More than half of mainland France is currently under the highest weather alert level. Tourists are experiencing widespread disappointment as they cope with suffocating conditions on the streets, in the subway, and in non-air-conditioned rentals.

Spain records its hottest first six months ever as heatwave fatalities surpass 1,028—more than double the death toll from the same period last year.

Spain heatwave: Over 1,000 dead as country marks hottest first 6 months on record

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Foreigners among 12 killed, 23 missing in Spain’s devastating wildfire; toll may go up

Spain heatwave: 1,028 fatalities confirmed amid record-breaking temperature