Wildfires have ravaged parts of Europe, with devastating consequences in Spain and France.In southern Spain, a wildfire near Almeria claimed at least 12 lives, including four British nationals, while leaving 23 people missing.The blaze, which broke out late on Thursday, forced evacuations and resulted in numerous injuries.

Emergency services attributed the deaths to victims ignoring shelter-in-place instructions and attempting to flee, with some perishing in a dry riverbed that became a 'death trap'.Meanwhile, France recorded a sharp increase in heat-related deaths, with over 2,000 excess fatalities during its hottest June on record.

The country's authorities warned of a high wildfire risk, with one fire near the Spanish border burning through 12,000 acres and displacing over 10,000 residents.Scientists link the escalating wildfires to climate change, emphasizing the growing frequency of extreme heat and prolonged dry conditions.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the disaster, pledging an unprecedented response to wildfires this summer.British families are now appealing for help to locate missing loved ones, highlighting the human toll of these environmental crises.