Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to battle pockets of flames in southeastern Spain following one of the country's deadliest wildfires on record. Emergency services have been deployed around the village of Bedar, where at least 12 individuals have lost their lives, including four British nationals, according to Spanish authorities. An additional 23 people remain unaccounted for.

Local officials in the Almería region, specifically the Los Gallardos area, have issued warnings that the death toll could increase, expressing concerns that more British citizens may be among the victims. The incident underscores the severe impact of a sustained heatwave across Southern Europe, which has seen temperatures reach approximately 40C (104F), fueling wildfires in countries including France, Portugal, and Spain.

The Los Gallardos fire rapidly spread on Thursday afternoon, driven by soaring temperatures, extremely dry ground conditions, and strong winds. While a fallen power line was initially suggested as the cause, local electricity companies have disputed this, and no further details have been provided regarding the four individuals found deceased in a burnt-out vehicle.

Antonio Sanz, Andalusia's health and emergencies minister, stated that the victims in the vehicle were believed to be of British origin due to the car having a right-hand drive steering wheel. The rapid and complex nature of the fire means that a significant portion, possibly all, of the victims may have been foreign nationals, he added.

Officials in Bedar have indicated that some of those who perished did not follow recommended evacuation routes, though the effectiveness of how this guidance was communicated remains unclear. Neither the Spanish authorities nor the UK Foreign Office have released the identities of those deceased.

Lucinda Curtois, a tourist who was in Bedar with her family, described the fire's terrifying speed and intensity, comparing the smoke plume to a "mushroom cloud." She expressed fears that at least two other British nationals might have been killed, noting that some residents left their homes on foot, possibly due to blocked roads.

Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has noted that many Belgians own second homes in the affected region, and consular services are actively attempting to contact citizens who have not yet been reached. The Andalusian branch of the national weather agency, AEMET, has forecast more favorable conditions for Saturday, with moderate winds and cooler air expected.

With a death toll of at least 12, this wildfire is already considered one of the deadliest in Spain's recent history, highlighting the growing threat of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.