Key facts
- A British couple was rescued from a ravine after being caught in wildfires in Spain's Almeria province.
- The couple suffered severe burns covering 40% of their bodies and are in intensive care.
- The wildfires have resulted in at least 12 deaths, including four Britons.
- Approximately 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres) of land have been burned.
- Firefighters made significant progress in controlling the blaze by Saturday, aided by calmer winds and higher humidity.
- Over 1,500 people were evacuated from the fire zone, with about 600 allowed to return.
A British couple was found severely burned and semi-conscious in a ravine after being caught in deadly wildfires that swept through Spain's Almeria province. The pair were reportedly hiking when the blaze, which spread rapidly on Thursday, engulfed them. They were evacuated to a hospital and are currently in intensive care.
Civil Guard officers discovered the couple in the early hours of Friday morning near the village of Bedar while searching for survivors. Sergeant Pedro Barre described hearing distant cries for help, leading the team down a hillside to find the couple with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies.
The wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 12 people, including four Britons, and have burned through approximately 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres) of land. Authorities reported significant progress in controlling the fires by Saturday, attributing the improvement to calmer winds and increased humidity. Around 600 of the 1,500 people evacuated from the Almería province were permitted to return to their homes.
Forensic scientists are working to identify the victims, a process complicated by family members traveling from abroad to provide DNA samples. This incident marks one of the deadliest wildfire events in Spanish history. Wildfires have also impacted southern France, leading to over 10,000 evacuations and 32 arrests on suspicion of arson.
The extreme heatwave across Southern Europe, with temperatures around 40C (104F), has exacerbated wildfire conditions. Climate change is identified as a significant factor driving increased heatwaves and more intense wildfires across Europe, which is warming at twice the global average.