2 People Died In Forest Fires In Catalonia

JAKARTA - Two people died in forest fires in the Catalonia region, Spain a day ago, most of which were under control amid severe heat waves in Europe.

A fire in Torrefeta broke out in an agricultural area on Tuesday afternoon, destroying agricultural crops, and affecting an area that stretches about 40 kilometers.

"The fire was intense and uncertain due to storms and strong winds, which resulted in convection clouds complicating extinguishing efforts," the fire department said.

Authorities warned more storms were expected to occur on Wednesday afternoon and urged vigilance.

"Please be careful and follow all instructions and recommendations from emergency services," regional leader Catalonia Salvador Illa said in a post on X.

About 14,000 residents were asked to stay indoors for several hours on Tuesday.

The forest fire broke out when Europe faced an "extraordinary" hot storm, prompting heat warnings across the region.

Spanish meteorological agency AEMET earlier this week reported the hottest June ever recorded, issuing warnings of high temperatures, storms, and strong winds across most of the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday.