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

Wildfire in southern Spain leaves at least 12 dead and 23 missing
[Image: BBC]
At least 12 people have died and 23 others are missing in a wildfire in southern Spain.

Andalusia's regional leader Juanma Moreno says four of the victims may be British.

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 40°C (104°F) 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.

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