Spanish authorities confirm identification of all 13 victims from devastating wildfires in Almería province.
Spanish authorities confirmed the identification of all 13 victims from the devastating wildfires that ravaged the remote community of Los Gallardos in Almería province. The confirmation, achieved through biological samples, included seven British citizens and several nationals from Belgium and France. Pete Gillam and Fran Gillam, whose home in Bédar suffered severe damage, were among those recorded as deceased. The blaze, one of the worst in years, destroyed thousands of hectares of land. Witness accounts, including those from Malcolm Timbrell, detailed the chaotic struggle to escape the rapidly spreading flames. Local authorities confirmed that the fire, which started last Thursday, was fueled by extreme heat and strong winds. While initial reports indicated many more people were missing, investigators have now accounted for all 13 fatalities. The disaster prompted significant local mobilization, with aid and support arriving from various groups. The incident underscores the severe risk posed by high temperatures across Spain, a pattern of increasing wildfire danger across the continent. Officials are now focusing on recovery efforts after the flames were brought under control.
Sources
- Family 'heartbroken' over British couple's wildfire deaths in Spain — BBC
- Briton tells of surviving Spain wildfire in car as wife and friends died trying to run to safety — BBC
- Spanish authorities identify all 13 victims of deadly southern fire — ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Seven Britons among 12 foreign nationals killed in Spain’s deadly wildfires — The Guardian
- Bishop of Almería: Let us be God's hands for those who suffer — Vatican News