Hundreds of firefighters continued battling pockets of flames in southeastern Spain on Saturday as authorities sought to bring one of the country's deadliest wildfires in recent history under control after at least 12 people were killed in the blaze that swept through Almería province.

The fire, which erupted near the village of Bédar in the Los Gallardos area of Andalusia, has scorched approximately 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres) of forest and farmland, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,400 residents from nearby communities. More than 500 firefighters, supported by military emergency units and firefighting aircraft, remain deployed to contain the blaze.

Emergency officials said weather conditions improved overnight, allowing firefighters to shift from defensive operations to direct attacks on the remaining hotspots.

"We will be able to mount a direct attack on the fire for the first time," Andalusia's Regional Minister for the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue and Administrative Simplification, Antonio Sanz, said, noting that lighter winds and higher humidity had improved firefighting conditions.

Spanish authorities confirmed that at least 12 people have lost their lives in the disaster, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in Spain in decades. While the identities of the victims have not yet been officially released, authorities believe many were foreign nationals, including four people thought to be British who were found inside a burned-out right-hand-drive vehicle. DNA testing is underway to formally identify the victims.

The number of people officially reported missing has also fallen significantly, with authorities now confirming seven missing individuals after earlier reports suggested more than 20 were unaccounted for. Search and rescue teams continue to comb affected areas as the fire is brought under greater control.

Officials said several victims may have attempted to flee the rapidly advancing flames rather than following recommended evacuation or shelter-in-place guidance. Investigators are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fatalities.

The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. Preliminary findings point to a fallen power line as the likely ignition source, although electricity companies have denied responsibility and authorities have yet to determine the definitive cause.

The Almería disaster comes as much of southern Europe faces another summer marked by extreme heat and destructive wildfires. Temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F), prolonged drought, strong winds, and exceptionally dry vegetation have created ideal conditions for rapidly spreading fires across Spain, Portugal, France, and other Mediterranean countries. Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events, while experts also point to land management challenges as factors contributing to the severity of recent wildfires.

Elsewhere in Europe, France has also experienced a severe wildfire season, with thousands of residents evacuated in recent weeks. French authorities have intensified investigations into suspected arson, with dozens of people arrested in connection with deliberately started fires.

As firefighters continue working to extinguish the remaining hotspots in Almería, Spanish authorities have urged residents and visitors to strictly follow emergency instructions, warning that changing wind conditions could still pose a threat despite the improving weather. (ILKHA)