British families have appealed on social media and local forums for help finding relatives who have gone missing in devastating wildfires in south-eastern Spain. The fires swept through Bedar, near Almeria, killing at least 12 people — including four Britons — with some victims reportedly caught in cars consumed by flames as they tried to flee. The disaster has hit a community with an unusually high British population, adding to fears for those unaccounted for.

At least six Britons are among the missing. Bedar has one of the highest concentrations of Britons in Spain: of its 1,009 residents, 447 were British nationals according to 2022 figures. Danielle Gillam-Kirton from Sheffield said her parents, Pete and Fran Gillam, sent a final text at 6.53pm on Thursday saying they were evacuating, and have not been reachable since. Patricia McGough reported her daughter Caitie missing after she left the area driving a red Ford Fiesta with her dog, while a community Facebook group appealed for information on a couple, Simon and Lisa, who were cut off by the fire.