Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Spain Wildfire Kills At Least 12; Foreign Nationals Among Victims
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
MADRID (Worthy News) – Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their two daughters observed a minute of silence Friday after authorities confirmed that at least 12 people were killed in a fast-moving wildfire that swept through a tourist area in Spain’s southern Andalusia region.
Officials said many of the victims were believed to be foreign nationals. Four people, thought to be British citizens, reportedly died inside a right-hand-drive car, while others were trapped as they tried to escape on foot after leaving designated evacuation routes. Authorities said 23 people remained missing.
Around 500 firefighters, supported by Spain’s Military Emergency Unit, battled the blaze in the Los Gallardos district as about 800 residents and tourists were evacuated, nearly 200 of them to temporary shelters, officials said. More than 3,150 hectares (7,780 acres) of forest and farmland were reportedly scorched.
Andalusia Emergency Minister Antonio Sanz described the wildfire as “very complex” and “very fast-moving,” saying steep ravines and rugged terrain hampered firefighting efforts. Officials warned conditions could worsen if winds strengthened.
FOREIGN NATIONALS AMONG VICTIMS
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “deeply saddened and devastated” by the disaster, while King Felipe cut short a public appearance to express condolences to the victims’ families.
The cause of the wildfire remained under investigation, although witnesses suggested it may have been sparked by a fallen power line.
Spain’s latest blaze comes as the nation endures another severe heatwave, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), creating tinderbox conditions for the rapid spread of wildfires.
Bedar, one of the communities directly affected by the wildfire in the Los Gallardos area, is home to many foreign residents and is popular with tourists seeking a quieter alternative to Spain’s nearby Mediterranean beach resorts.
SPAIN’S WILDFIRE CHALLENGE
Several scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood and intensity of extreme heatwaves, heightening the risk of destructive wildfires across southern Europe.
Other experts have linked the severity of recent wildfires to factors including urbanization, development in fire-prone areas, and inadequate forest management.
Spain has experienced increasingly frequent and prolonged heatwaves in recent years. Last year, wildfires burned nearly 4,000 square kilometers (1,544 square miles) of land in the country, the highest annual total recorded by the European Forest Fire Information System.
Wildfires have also affected several other European countries in recent weeks, including France, Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey, as prolonged heat and drought heightened the risk of rapidly spreading blazes across the continent.
The fires have added to human suffering across Europe, where recent estimates suggest a late-June heatwave contributed to thousands of excess deaths.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The massive anti-Israel protest movement that swept Britain after Hamas’ October 7 attack has been driven largely by a coordinated and internationally financed network of activist organizations, according to a major new report presented Wednesday at the House of Lords.
Thousands of people gathered near Srebrenica on Saturday to mark the 31st anniversary of Europe’s worst single atrocity since World War Two.
Nigerian security forces have rescued dozens of schoolchildren and teachers nearly two months after they were abducted by suspected Boko Haram-linked Islamic militants, raising fresh concerns that Islamist extremists are expanding their reach into southwestern Nigeria, officials said.
Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their two daughters observed a minute of silence Friday after authorities confirmed that at least 12 people were killed in a fast-moving wildfire that swept through a tourist area in Spain’s southern Andalusia region.
Thousands of Hungarians rallied outside Budapest’s Sándor Palace on Thursday in protest against Prime Minister Péter Magyar, whom they accuse of undermining democracy through planned constitutional changes that would pave the way for removing President Tamás Sulyok from office.
Israel has provided the United States with new intelligence indicating that Iran may be developing a fresh plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Wall Street Journal.
President Donald Trump is pressing congressional Republicans to move quickly on two of his biggest unfinished priorities: a $350 billion defense funding package and a sweeping nationwide voter ID mandate.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com