Madrid, July 10 (SANA)Twelve people have died inwildfiresthat broke out in Almería Province inSpain’s southern Andalusia region, as around 150 firefighters continue efforts to contain the blaze.

The Andalusian emergency agency said, according to Reuters, that the fire was among the most destructive the region has experienced. Andalusia’s Minister of the Presidency, Health and Emergencies Antonio Sanz described it as an “unprecedented tragedy.”

The wildfire follows major blazes in southern France that forced authorities to evacuate more than 10,000 people from more than 20 towns and villages near the Spanish border.

Early heatwaves across Western Europe in May and June left large areas of land dry, increasing the risk of wildfires. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that Europe is warming at more than twice the global average rate, raising the likelihood of recurringheatwavesand wildfire outbreaks.