Wildfire in southern Spain kills at least 12 and leaves 23 missing

A wildfire in the Andalusia region of southern Spain killed at least 12 people and left 23 others missing. Bodies were found in and around the village of Bédar near Los Gallardos in Almería province. Four victims were discovered inside a car with a right-hand steering wheel.

Andalusia health and emergencies minister Antonio Sanz stated that the steering wheel indicated the four victims were likely British. Eight other victims were found outside the vehicle. Four people remain hospitalized with serious burns.

Four others received treatment for minor burns and smoke inhalation. Regional president Juanma Moreno stated that the fire appeared to have started from the collapse of a power line pole. Electricity company Endesa stated that the power line was inactive and not part of its network.

The flames spread rapidly through wooded areas around Los Gallardos during a sustained heatwave with temperatures near 40C. Emergency services evacuated 1,000 residents and closed roads in the area. Spain's Military Emergency Unit deployed 220 soldiers and 70 vehicles.

The civil guard sent 160 personnel to support evacuations, traffic control and origin searches. Dozens of aircraft joined the containment effort. The UK Foreign Office contacted Spanish authorities after the deaths.

Belgian consular services began checking on citizens with second homes in the region. Moreno described the incident as a tragedy and said the death toll could rise. This wildfire ranks among Spain's deadliest.

In 2005, 11 firefighters died in a blaze east of Madrid. Twenty people perished in a 1984 fire on La Gomera. Twenty-one people died near Lloret de Mar in a 1979 fire.