A 93-year-old British woman has died from injuries sustained in the devastating wildfires that swept through southern Spain, bringing the total death toll to 13. The Andalusian government confirmed on Sunday afternoon that the woman had been admitted to hospital on Friday with burns covering approximately 20% of her body.
Wildfire Details and Victims
The wildfire broke out on Thursday in Los Gallardos, a municipality in Almeria province, and has burned more than 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres). Regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz expressed condolences to the family of the woman and all those killed. Authorities have not yet formally identified any of the deceased, but at least four are thought to be British after four bodies were found in a burnt-out car with the steering wheel on the right-hand side.
In a separate incident, two British hikers were found alive but severely burned. The man and woman, who have not been identified, are believed to have suffered 40% burns, according to Spanish national broadcaster RTVE. The pair were discovered by a team of Civil Guards who had already checked the area but decided to return.
Rescue Efforts
In an interview with RTVE, Civil Guard officers described finding the two British people alive just as night fell. Sergeant Pedro Barre said: “That experience we accumulate over the years is what tells you: take another look, give it one last try, check again just in case.” They called out and used whistles before eventually hearing a sound they initially thought could be an echo. Another rescuer, Rafael Zea, said that given the couple’s injuries, it must have taken a “Titanic effort” for them to raise their voices to be heard. With the help of firefighters and emergency services, the pair were rescued after more than two hours. They are now in a serious condition in hospital, but their lives are not believed to be in danger.
Evacuations and Investigation
Spanish authorities believe all the victims were foreign tourists who attempted to escape on foot after abandoning their vehicles and trying to flee through rugged terrain. Mr. Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, previously stated that post-mortem examinations had been completed and DNA samples collected to identify the victims. More than 1,000 residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes in evacuated villages north of Los Gallardos on Sunday afternoon.
Spain has experienced frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. In June, the country recorded several days of record-setting heat, resulting in over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to the high temperatures.
