British Woman Becomes 13th Fatality as Spain's Wildfires Burn

A 93-year-old British woman has died from burns sustained in the wildfires ravaging southern Spain, marking the 13th confirmed fatality from the devastating fires. The woman was admitted to Torrecardenas University Hospital in Almería early Friday with burns covering 20 percent of her body and passed away Friday night.

Officials believe a significant number of the deceased were British nationals, though Belgian and French citizens are also reported among the dead. With 23 people still unaccounted for, the death toll is feared to rise.

Rescue Operations

Earlier, Spanish Police rescued two British tourists who suffered extensive burns after becoming trapped while hiking in the Almería wildfire. Civil Guard officers located the pair, a man and a woman, at the bottom of a ravine after hearing faint sounds during a search for survivors near the village of Bédar.

Sergeant Pedro Barre, one of the officers involved, described hearing what they initially thought was an echo before using whistles and shouting to pinpoint the survivors' location. The two-hour rescue operation, which involved firefighters, airlifted the semi-conscious individuals to the hospital where they are currently in intensive care. Another Civil Guard involved in the rescue, Rafael Zea, noted the immense effort it took for the victims to vocalize their state.

Fire Containment and Evacuations

The wildfire, which has reportedly been contained, burned through approximately 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land in the Almería province. Around 1,500 people were evacuated from the fire zone since the blazes erupted, and approximately 600 residents have since been permitted to return to their homes.

Emergency services implemented door-to-door notifications and telephone alerts to inform residents of necessary shelter or evacuation procedures. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the affected area.

A Foreign Office spokesperson stated, "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Spain. We are supporting British nationals affected and their families, and remain in close contact with the Spanish authorities."