At least 12 people have died after a wildfire broke out in southern Spain, local authorities said early Friday, as Europe grapples with a series of heat waves that have significantly raised the risk of such blazes.

The fire broke out near the municipality of Los Gallardos in Almería province on Thursday afternoon and prompted evacuations in several neighborhoods, the emergency service of the Andalusia region said.

The service did not detail what caused the 12 deaths, but said some of the victims were found in vehicles. It said initial calls to the service reported that a downed power line had sparked a blaze that spread rapidly to a wooded area.

Two people, a woman who suffered burns and a person who needed treatment for smoke inhalation, were taken to a hospital, while four others were treated for respiratory problems and minor burns, the emergency service said.

The authorities said 150 personnel were fighting the fire. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain said on social media that the military’s emergency unit had also mobilized to help.

Much of Europe has faced a series of searing heat waves this summer, and forecasters have warned that the relentless scorching weather is creating an unprecedented danger of wildfires in some countries.

A wildfire in the Pyrenees mountain range area of France, on the border with Spain, has forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate from their homes, the authorities said on Monday.

And in southern Spain, evacuations have been ordered in several areas because of wildfires. Around 1,000 people had to leave their homes in the town of Benhavís in Málaga province after a wildfire erupted on Thursday, the regional emergency service said.