At least 1,400 people have been evacuated from their homes due to a deadly wildfire in Spain's Almería province, where a British couple was found badly burned and semi-conscious in a ravine, according to local media reports.
Rescue of the British Couple
The couple, on holiday in the region, were hiking when they were caught in the blaze that has killed 12 people, burned more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres), and left at least 23 missing. Guardia Civil officers searching the charred landscape near Bédar found them on Thursday in critical condition, semi-conscious, with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies. They were airlifted to hospital in a two-hour rescue operation and remain in intensive care.
Sgt Pedro Barre, one of three officers involved, told Spain's TVE state broadcaster that they heard a sound in the distance but initially thought it was an echo. He said: “As you gain more experience, something inside you tells you: ‘Look again, try one more time.’ We’ll never forget that look of surprise and emotion on their faces.” Officer Rafael Zea added: “Being able to call out in the condition they were in was a titanic effort.”
Firefighting Efforts and Casualties
On Saturday, after high winds eased, firefighters began gaining control of the flames. On Sunday, Andalusia’s regional government head, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, said the fire had been contained and its perimeter secured. The blaze involved more than 500 firefighters and emergency workers. Most of the 12 killed are thought to be British and Belgian nationals, along with one Spaniard. Forensic scientists in Madrid are using samples from the victims' bodies and DNA from families of the missing to identify the dead.
Context and Impact
This is one of the deadliest wildfires in Spanish history, with officials describing the damage as looking “like a bomb has gone off.” Bonilla said dry weather, high winds, and heatwaves fuelled by the climate crisis had made the area a “ticking timebomb” for wildfire.
