A wildfire in Spain in southern Almería province killed at least 12 people, scorched 66 square kilometres and forced 1,448 evacuations from 11 locations, officials said.
Hundreds of firefighters, backed by helicopters and aircraft, were working to contain the blaze near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains after it started late Thursday during a heat wave.
Authorities said the burned area was roughly the size of Manhattan. Searches continued for 23 missing people.
Reports said most victims were foreign nationals. Seven people died on foot after leaving their cars, while four died in a charred vehicle described as British.
Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, said authorities were facing “one of the most complex fires in recent years.”
Read: Spain Wildfire Kills 11 as 19 Missing in Almería
Justice Minister Félix Bolaños linked the fire’s severity to the “climate emergency.” He said the blaze moved at up to 100 metres per minute at its peak.
Spanish police arrested two people for failing to follow evacuation orders. France has also faced major wildfires during temperatures reaching 40°C, with 32 people detained on suspicion of starting fires.
