Firefighters in Spain’s southeastern Almería province have intensified efforts to contain one of the country’s deadliest wildfires after shifting from defensive operations to directly attacking the blaze. The fire, fueled by strong winds, has claimed at least 12 lives and destroyed around 6,600 hectares of land. Authorities said the situation remains complex, though crews successfully prevented the flames from spreading toward densely populated coastal areas.

Officials confirmed that autopsies have been completed on the 12 victims, but their identities have not yet been established. DNA samples have been sent to Madrid for further analysis, while authorities said seven people have been formally reported missing. Eight others were injured in the wildfire, including four who remain in critical condition at a hospital in Seville. Most of the victims are believed to be British and Belgian nationals, along with one Spanish citizen.

More than 1,400 residents have been evacuated as a precaution, with over 500 firefighters, emergency personnel, soldiers, and aerial support working to contain the blaze. Emergency teams are focusing on the western front, where the fire remains most active. Local residents described the wildfire’s rapid spread, recalling how flames engulfed the mountains within minutes and left entire communities scrambling to escape.

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