Following a major wildfire in the Almería region of southern Spain, at least 12 people have died, while 150 firefighters remain engaged in efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Reuters reported on Friday, July 10, that officials from the Andalusia regional emergency management authority described the incident as the deadliest wildfire in the region’s history. The number of fatalities was initially reported as six, but was later revised upward to 12.
Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s Minister of Health and Emergency Management, described the disaster as the “most devastating wildfire” in the region’s history and called it an “unprecedented tragedy.” He said emergency response teams were working at full capacity to contain the fire and limit the damage.
Juanma Moreno, President of the Andalusian regional government, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and said that all relevant authorities had been mobilized to fight the fire, provide assistance to those affected, and manage the emergency situation.
The wildfire comes amid an early heatwave and prolonged drought conditions that have increased the risk of forest fires across large parts of Western Europe. Local authorities have warned that the situation may persist and that there remains a risk of the fire spreading further.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) had previously warned that Europe is warming at a rate more than twice the global average. The organization has cautioned that climate change is likely to lead to more frequent and prolonged heatwaves, as well as an increase in large-scale wildfires across the continent.
Writer:Sali Aryaei
