Seven Britons Among 13 Who Died in Severe Spanish Wildfires

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:52:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Nine dead in Almería province, 13 confirmed victims, 12 foreigners, 1 Spanish. 7 British nationals also lost their lives in disastrous fires.

Wildfires in Spain’s Almería province engulfed 7,000 hectares, claiming the lives of 13 people, 12 of whom were foreign nationals. Britain lost seven citizens, including a couple from Bédar. Spanish authorities and the UK Foreign Office provided support. Nearly 1,500 residents were evacuated as firefighters fought to contain the blaze.

Seven Britons Among 13 Who Died in Severe Spanish Wildfires

A devastating wildfire that swept across Almería province in southern Spain has killed 13 people, 12 of whom were foreign nationals. British authorities have confirmed that seven of the victims were residents of the United Kingdom.

The fire, which engulfed about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land, broke out on Thursday. Firefighters have been battling the blaze for days, but the flames have already claimed the lives of eight women and five men – all adults. Near 1,500 people were evacuated from the affected area as the crisis unfolded.

According to Spanish officials, seven of the deceased were British nationals, three from Belgium, one from France, one from the United States and one Spanish citizen. Notable victims include the couple Pete and Fran Gillam from Bédar, whose family confirmed their tragic demise via a Facebook post by their daughter Danielle.

A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said the UK government “is supporting British nationals affected and their families and remains in close contact with Spanish authorities.”

Survivor Malcolm Timbrell, 70, who lives in Bédar, provided a harrowing account of the ordeal. He escaped in one of the last surviving cars amid a blaze that swallowed four of the adjacent cars. “I survived inside the last one with a cat,” he told BBC reporters, describing the split-second decision that kept him safe.

Images from the scene show firefighters in high‑visibility suits gathering around a helicopter parked on shrubby terrain, while charred landscapes extend across the province.

Firefighters in yellow hi vis and helmets gather around a helicopter parked on shrubland in Almocaizar on 12 July.

The wildfire has already been contained, but the damage to communities and natural habitats remains severe. Spanish authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant as temperatures during this summer’s heatwave regularly exceeded 40°C.