Seven British nationals have been confirmed among the 13 victims of one of Spain's deadliest wildfires on record in Almeria, officials announced late Sunday. The identification process, which involved biological samples from relatives, revealed that the deceased include one Spaniard and twelve foreign nationals, with seven from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France, one from the United States, and one Spanish citizen.
Survivor's Harrowing Account
Malcolm Timbrell, 70, a British pensioner who fears his wife Annette Kilgore, 69, and friends perished, described how he survived by sheltering in an abandoned car with his cat. The couple, who moved to Bedar after appearing on Channel 4's A Place in the Sun, became separated as flames surged through the village. Timbrell told the BBC: 'My wife and our other seven friends and neighbours – against me screaming at them not to – decided the only safe way was to walk out in front of the firewall. I've subsequently heard that that firewall was moving at 20 kilometres per hour, plus. They had no chance.'
Victims and Rescue Efforts
A 93-year-old British woman was also among the victims, succumbing to burns covering about 20% of her body. Two British hikers were found alive but badly burned, suffering 40% burns, according to Spanish broadcaster RTVE. Civil Guard officers discovered them after a second search. Sergeant Pedro Barre told RTVE: 'That experience we accumulate over the years is what tells you: take another look, give it one last try, check again just in case.' The pair are in serious but non-life-threatening condition in hospital.
Fire Intensity and Evacuations
Authorities proactively evacuated 1,448 people from around 11 areas. At its most intense, flames advanced at up to 100 meters per minute. The justice minister attributed the ferocity to a 'climate emergency.' Spain has faced frequent severe heatwaves, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. In June, more than 1,000 excess deaths were attributed to heat. The country's deadliest wildfire was in 1979, when 21 people died in Lloret de Mar.
Official Confirmation
Andalucia's High Court of Justice confirmed: 'This afternoon, the identification of all the victims of the Los Gallardos fire was completed. In total, the identified victims of the fire include one Spaniard and twelve foreign nationals. The thirteen deceased comprise eight women and five men, all of them adults.' The identification process for the final three bodies was completed thanks to biological samples from relatives.
