Twelve die in Spain wildfire as heatwave continues in Southern Europe

At least 11 people have died and six have been injured in a wildfire in southern Spain, the Andalusian regional government has said.

A regional official said early indications suggested four of the victims were British.

Some 150 firefighters are working to contain the blaze, which witnesses said was caused by a downed power line, before spreading to a wooded area in Los Gallardos, Almería. Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire.

A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across southern Europe this summer.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling major incidents in France, Portugal and Spain, with thousands forced to leave their homes.

The bodies of the 11 victims were found in and around the small village of Bédar, just outside Los Gallardos.

Antonio Sanz, Andalusia’s health and emergencies minister, said the fire had been complex and rapid and the majority or even all of the victims may have been foreign nationals. The regional government had given an earlier death toll of 12, although Sanz said the number was provisional.

Four people were found trapped in their car, said Sanz, while other victims were found elsewhere, apparently trying to escape the flames. He said the four in the car were believed to be “of British origin” and that the car had a steering wheel on the right.

BBC News has contacted the UK Foreign Office.

Regional leader Juanma Moreno called the deaths “a tragedy”. Writing on X after the scale of the tragedy began to emerge overnight, he said: “Our hearts are heavy and we are devastated by grief.”

Among those injured was a person who was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, and another who suffered burns. Four people were treated at the scene for minor burns and respiratory problems caused by the heavy smoke.

The fire also led to road closures, while 1,000 residents were evacuated, according to emergency services.