In brief
Almería province in southern Spain was engulfed by wildfires that left 13 people dead, including seven Britons, three Belgians, a Frenchman, an American, and a Spanish citizen. Survivors recount their narrow escape and the mass evacuation of about 1,500 residents. The massive blaze, which burned roughly 7,000 hectares, is tied to an intense heatwave that sees temperatures over 40 °C. British officials are offering support to affected families.
The Mediterranean region of Almería in southern Spain was devastated by a chain of wildfires on Thursday, leaving 13 people dead, including seven British nationals, as officials confirmed.
+Of the 13 victims, twelve were foreign residents – three from Belgium, one from France, one from the United States, and a single Spanish citizen. They were eight women and five men, all adults.
+The fatalities included the Bedar couple, Pete and Fran Gillam, whose family confirmed the tragedy on social media. Another survivor, 70‑year‑old Malcolm Timbrell, described how he escaped by taking refuge in a car while his wife and friends perished.
+Nearly 1,500 residents were evacuated as firefighters battled flames that consumed about 7,000 hectares of land. Spain has faced numerous severe heatwaves, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C, which exacerbated the blaze.
+The British Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting affected nationals and remained in close contact with Spanish authorities.
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