French national among those missing after Almería wildfire

A French national is among the individuals who remain unaccounted for after a significant wildfire erupted in Almería, Spain. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the situation, stating that Spanish authorities are actively engaged in the identification process of victims. The French Embassy in Madrid and the Consulate General in Seville are maintaining close contact with Spanish officials and are providing support to the woman's family. Currently, there is no confirmation of the French citizen's death, but her status remains unconfirmed. The wildfire has tragically resulted in at least twelve confirmed fatalities and left 18 people injured, five of whom required hospitalization for burns. One individual is in critical condition, while four others sustained serious injuries. The identities of the deceased are still pending, with DNA samples sent to Madrid for analysis by the Guardia Civil's Criminalistics Service. Spanish authorities are using the term "unaccounted for" rather than "missing" for the 23 individuals whose whereabouts are unknown. They have not ruled out the possibility that some may have been evacuated and have not yet been able to contact their families. Seven official missing person reports have been filed so far. Over 540 ground personnel, including members of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME), alongside aerial resources, are continuing their efforts to bring the blaze under control. Authorities are hopeful that increased humidity overnight will aid in a direct assault on the flames. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has been in communication with his counterparts in the United Kingdom and Belgium, as it is believed that most of the fatalities are of British or Belgian nationality. The affected region is known to host a substantial community of foreign residents.