A 93-year-old British woman has died after sustaining burns in the devastating wildfires that swept through southern Spain, the Andalusian government confirmed on Sunday. She was admitted to hospital on Friday with burns covering approximately 20% of her body, and her death pushed the overall toll from the blazes to 13.
British Casualties and Rescue
At least four victims are believed to be British nationals, after four bodies were recovered from a burnt-out vehicle with a right-hand steering wheel. On Sunday, two British hikers—a man and a woman—were found alive with severe burns covering around 40% of their bodies, according to Spanish national broadcaster RTVE. They were located by a Civil Guard patrol who had previously searched the area but decided to return.
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 team called out and blew whistles before detecting a noise they initially thought was an echo. Fellow rescuer Rafael Zea added that given the severity of the couple's injuries, it must have required a "Titanic effort" for them to make themselves heard. Firefighters and emergency personnel rescued the pair after a two-hour ordeal. Both are in serious condition in hospital, but their lives are not thought to be at risk.
Victims and Context
Spanish authorities believe all those affected were foreign tourists who attempted to flee on foot after abandoning their vehicles in treacherous terrain. Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia's emergency services, confirmed that post-mortem examinations and DNA samples have been collected to identify the victims. Spain has faced increasingly frequent heatwaves, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. In June, over 1,000 excess deaths were attributed to extreme heat.
