A fast-moving forest fire near Almeria in southeastern Spain has claimed the lives of 12 people and injured six others. Around 150 firefighters are battling the blaze in Los Gallardos, which forced the evacuation of approximately 1,000 residents and tragically trapped some victims inside their burning vehicles. While authorities have not confirmed the official cause, witnesses say the fire started from a broken power line before rapidly consuming the nearby forest. The disaster unfolds amid a severe 40-degree Celsius heatwave across southern Europe, triggering mass evacuations and widespread fires in France, Portugal, and Spain. This latest emergency follows a historically devastating period for the region, with data showing over 1 million hectares were destroyed by wildfires across the European Union last year.