Emergency services have been deployed around the village of Bedar where 12 people have been killed - among them four Britons, according to Spanish authorities. Another 23 people are still missing.

Local officials in the Los Gallardos area of Almería have warned the number of dead could rise, with fears that more Britons are among those killed. A sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across Southern Europe this summer, particularly in France, Portugal and Spain. Soaring temperatures, incredibly dry ground and powerful winds led to the Los Gallardos fire spreading quickly on Thursday afternoon.

Antonio Sanz, Andalusia's health and emergencies minister, said on Saturday the fire had burned across 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres) of land. The cause has been put down to a fallen power line, but local electricity companies have denied this. No additional information has been given about the four people who were found dead in a burnt-out car.

Sanz said previously they are believed to be "of British origin" and that the car had a steering wheel on the right. He also said weather conditions had improved overnight, "allowing us to face the day with better prospects than yesterday". He added: "This is the first day we will be able to mount a direct attack on the fire. Until now, weather conditions and the behavior of the blaze only allowed us to work defensively".

Officials in Bedar said some of those who had died had not taken a recommended evacuation route - but it's not clear how well that guidance was conveyed. Neither the Spanish authorities - nor the Foreign Office in London - have revealed the identity of the deceased. Sanz said the rapid fire had been complex and the majority or even all of the victims may have been foreign nationals. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said many Belgians had second homes in the country and consular services were trying to contact "Belgians with whom they have not been able to get in touch". With at least 12 people dead, this is already among the deadliest wildfires in Spanish history. (BBC)