At least 12 people have died in a wildfire in Spain’s Almería province, according to regional authorities, as an extreme heatwave intensifies across southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Four of the dead are believed to be British nationals, officials said, while hundreds of firefighters battle what Spanish services describe as one of the country’s deadliest such blazes. The fire erupted during a week in which temperatures in parts of the Mediterranean basin climbed well above 40°C, with little overnight relief.

In the United Kingdom, the Met Office confirmed that temperatures exceeded 35°C on multiple days, making 2026 the first year to record 35°C in May, June and July. Amber heat-health alerts remain in place across much of England, the UK Health Security Agency warning of a likely rise in excess deaths among the elderly and vulnerable. Several water companies have imposed hosepipe bans, while Natural England has raised the fire severity index to “exceptional” in parts of southeast England and the Midlands.

Across Italy, forecasters expect the third major heatwave of the summer to push temperatures to 42–43°C in interior Sardinia by midweek, with Rome, Florence, Milan and Bologna set to reach 37–39°C. Italy’s health ministry has issued wave warnings for 27 cities. In Algeria, meteorological services warn of highs between 45°C and 48°C in multiple wilayas. Iranian authorities have issued yellow alerts for 13 provinces, with Khuzestan expected to touch 50°C. In Israel, red alerts for extreme heat stress were declared for the Jordan Valley, and orange alerts for other regions.

How long the searing heat will last remains uncertain. Italian and German forecasters see a possible easing by the weekend of 18–19 July, while the UK Met Office says there is “no clear end” to the current UK heatwave and that hot, dry conditions could persist. This prolonged heat, combined with high overnight temperatures that prevent urban areas from cooling, is driving health risks and straining water and energy systems.

The current blistering weather follows the hottest June on record for Europe, as confirmed by the EU’s Copernicus service. While attribution studies will later determine the precise role of climate change, scientists have long warned that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer and more intense as global temperatures rise. For now, authorities across the affected regions urge the public to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated and check on vulnerable groups.