At least 12 people have been killed in a fast-spreading wildfire that swept through a tourist area in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, amid fears the death toll could rise as 23 others remain missing.

Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, the regional government chief, said in statements today that a number of victims were found inside their cars and are likely foreign tourists, noting that the number of missing has risen from 19 to 23 after the fire broke out yesterday (Thursday) and consumed forests and vast areas of dry vegetation in the Los Gayardos area.

He noted that identifying the victims will require DNA tests due to severe burns that made recognition difficult, adding that four of them were in a car with the steering wheel on the right, suggesting they are British.

He also reported that about 500 firefighters supported by the Military Emergency Unit have been deployed to fight the fire and search for victims, and around 800 people have been evacuated, including about 200 to temporary shelters.

Officials warned that the situation could worsen if the wind changes direction, while scientists say human-caused climate change has made heatwaves longer, more frequent, and more intense.

It is worth noting that Spain is experiencing a heatwave that has created favorable conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly, especially after last year saw successive waves of fires that claimed dozens of victims.