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Firefighters and helicopters battle deadly wildfires in Spain
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Hundreds of firefighters supported by helicopters and aircraft are battling a massive wildfire in Andalusia, Spain, which has killed at least 12 people and scorched an area the size of Manhattan.
- Most victims, believed to be foreign nationals, died after ignoring shelter-in-place orders, with some perishing while fleeing on foot or in vehicles; authorities are working to identify them via autopsies and DNA samples.
- The wildfire is exacerbated by ongoing heat waves affecting Western Europe, with Spain experiencing record temperatures and high wildfire risk due to climate change-driven conditions.
- France is also grappling with multiple wildfires amid its third heat wave of the summer, with authorities arresting individuals connected to fire outbreaks and public landmarks adjusting hours due to extreme heat.
- Spain and Portugal have a history of deadly wildfires, with recent years seeing significant land burned and fatalities, underscoring the increasing threat posed by rising temperatures and climate emergencies.
