Local officials have previously said they did not issue an alert Thursday night because it could have reached people beyond the affected area and could have complicated evacuations.

Authorities also said police went door-to-door or phoned residents to give them instructions on how to shelter or evacuate safely.

The Andalusian regional government and the Spanish Civil Guard police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, plans to visit the devastated area of ​​Los Gallardos, home to many foreign residents, on Monday.

Among those affected by the fire was a British couple, who was found in a ravine, severely burned and semi-conscious, local media reported.

The pair are believed to have been walking as the fire spread rapidly across the province on Thursday. They were evacuated and taken to the hospital where they are in intensive care.

This is already among the deadliest forest fires in the history of Spain.

In 1984, 20 people died in a fire on the Canary island of La Gomera, while in 1979, 21 people, including nine children, died in a forest fire near Lloret de Mar in northeastern Spain.

Climate change is raising temperatures around the world, causing greater summer heat waves and more intense wildfires.

Additional information by Kostas Kallergis, Juan Domínguez.