A devastating wildfire in Spain's Almeria province has claimed at least 13 lives, with five of the victims believed to be British nationals. Among the deceased were a British couple who were discovered severely burned and semi-conscious in a ravine after reportedly being caught out while hiking as the blaze spread rapidly.
The couple were airlifted to a hospital and are currently in intensive care. The incident occurred in the region of Los Gallardos, an area known to have many foreign residents. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the affected area on Monday.
Local officials stated that an alert was not issued on Thursday night, the day the fire intensified, as it was feared it could reach beyond the immediate affected zone and potentially complicate evacuation efforts. Authorities reported that police conducted door-to-door checks and made phone calls to residents, providing instructions on how to shelter or evacuate safely.
This wildfire is already considered one of the deadliest in Spanish history. Previous major wildfires include one in 1984 on the Canary Island of La Gomera, which killed 20 people, and another in 1979 near Lloret de Mar in northeastern Spain, which resulted in 21 fatalities, including nine children.
Experts have noted that climate change is contributing to rising global temperatures, leading to more frequent and intense summer heatwaves and consequently, more severe wildfires.