Almería wildfires kill 12, British couple rescued with severe burns

A fast‑moving wildfire broke out on 9 July in the Almería province of southern Spain, engulfing the Los Gallardos and Bédar area. The blaze, driven by a heatwave with temperatures above 40 °C, burned roughly 6 600 ha of forest and scrub, destroying homes and prompting the evacuation of about 1 500 residents. Official counts confirm at least 12 fatalities – including British and Belgian tourists – and 23 people still missing.

Rescue teams, including the Civil Guard, located a British man and woman in a ravine after the fire cut off escape routes. Sergeant Pedro Barre recalled hearing a distant sound and, guided by experience, returned for a second check. The couple suffered severe burns covering about 40 % of their bodies and were air‑lifted to intensive care after a two‑hour rescue effort. Fellow guard Rafael Zea described the rescue as a “titanic effort.”

Spanish authorities, led by regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz, deployed over 500 firefighters, military personnel and aircraft. More than 1 400 people were evacuated from the affected zone, and around 600 have already been allowed to return home. The Spanish foreign ministry reported contact with the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands to share information on their nationals. The European Union expressed solidarity and offered civil‑protection funds. Ongoing searches continue for additional victims and missing persons.