The Foreign Office (FCDO) is warning of wildfires affecting parts of southern Spain, including Almería province – where four Brits are believed to have died – and the Marbella area on the Costa del Sol.
In an update to its travel advice on Friday, the FCDO added information on the Almería wildfire, including emergency contact numbers and a family support helpline.
So far, 12 people have been killed, according to Spanish authorities.
Andalusía’s Head of Emergencies Antonio Sanz said four people were found dead inside a vehicle while attempting to escape the fire. He said they appeared to be British because the car had a right-hand-side steering wheel, as reported by the Independent.
The wildfire broke out near the town of Los Gallardos in Almería province on Thursday afternoon and spread rapidly through woodland.
More than 150 firefighters have been working to bring the blaze under control.
Around 23 people remain missing, while hundreds of residents have been evacuated from the affected area.
The fire is now ‘more or less’ under control, according to the mayor of nearby Antas, although he warned that conditions ‘could get complicated’ if winds increase, as reported by the BBC.
A spokesperson from Downing Street said the UK Foreign Office is in contact with Spanish authorities over the ‘concerning’ reports of British casualties, PA news agency reports.
A separate wildfire near Marbella also caused disruption on Thursday, after a blaze broke out in the municipality of Benahavís. The fire prompted the closure of the AP-7 toll motorway and the evacuation of nearby homes as emergency services worked to contain the spread.
The Foreign Office is advising travellers in affected areas to monitor updates from emergency services.
The guidance states: “Local authorities have reported a wildfire in Los Gallardos, Almería, in Andalucía. If you are in an area affected by the wildfire: follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services at all times, avoid travelling into or through the affected area, follow updates from the emergency services, for emergencies, call 112.”
The wildfires follow a sustained heatwave across southern Europe, with temperatures reaching around 40C in parts of the region, and the Foreign Office warning of high risk of wildfires.
Photo is a stock image of a wildfire in Spain from Shutterstock
