A local official said four of the victims may be British after a fire broke out near Los Gallardos, Almería.

At least 12 people have died and 23 others are missing in a wildfire in southern Spain, Andalusia's regional leader Juanma Moreno has said. Hundreds of people are trying to contain the fire, which Moreno said appeared to have been caused by a downed power line. The flames then spread in a wooded area around Los Gallardos, Almería. A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across Southern Europe this summer. Firefighters have battled major incidents in France, Portugal and Spain, with thousands forced to leave their homes. The bodies of the 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. Four people were found trapped in their car, said Sanz, while eight 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. The UK Foreign Office has contacted Spanish authorities, a Downing Street spokesperson told PA news agency. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said many Belgians had second homes in Spain and consular services were trying to contact "Belgians with whom they have not been able to get in touch".