Seven Britons among those killed in Spain wildfires

Seven Britons among those killed in Spain wildfires

Seven Britons were among those killed in the deadly wildfires in southern Spain, authorities have confirmed. The wildfires, which tore through Spain's Almería province, have become one of the country's deadliest, with 13 people killed and nearly 1,500 people evacuated.

According to Spanish authorities, 12 of the 13 victims were foreign nationals, with seven from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States. The 13 people who died are eight women and five men, all adults.

Among the British nationals who died were couple Pete and Fran Gillam, who lived in Bédar, the village that bore the brunt of the wildfires. Their deaths were confirmed by their family, with their daughter Danielle Gillam-Kirton posting on Facebook that the family were "heartbroken to share that we have received confirmation from the police that Mum and Dad did not survive the fire."

British man Malcolm Timbrell, 70, who lives in the village of Bédar and survived the fires, spoke to the BBC outside his destroyed home high on the hillside. His wife and friends are believed to be among those killed during the wildfires. Timbrell described the moment he was separated from the group and attempted to take refuge in some abandoned cars, saying "Of the six cars, four of them instantly combusted and as each one started to go, I moved back one car."

Spain has suffered frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C. The fire, which has now been contained, burned through about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land, authorities said.

The wildfires broke out last Thursday in the southeastern province of Almería, which is home to many foreign residents near the Mediterranean coast. Flames fanned by high winds ripped through forests and scrubland made tinderbox dry by extreme high temperatures.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office previously said it was "supporting British nationals affected and their families and remain in close contact with the Spanish authorities".

In a statement, officials said seven of the victims were from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France and another from the United States, as cited by AFP and local media.

"The 13 people who died are eight women and five men, all adults," the public body responsible for identifying the victims added.