Another British individual has tragically passed away due to the destructive wildfires that ravaged southern Spain, as confirmed by authorities. The victim, a 93-year-old British woman, sustained injuries in the fire and was hospitalized with burns covering approximately 20% of her body. Regrettably, she succumbed to her injuries on Sunday.
This recent fatality brings the total death toll from the wildfires to 13, with at least four of the deceased believed to be British nationals. The discovery of a burnt-out car containing four bodies, along with a right-hand drive, suggests British victims. In a separate incident, two British hikers were found alive but severely burned, having suffered around 40% burns.
The hikers were located by Civil Guards who, despite initially searching the area, returned and found the survivors as night fell. The rescue was challenging due to the couple’s injuries, requiring significant effort for them to be heard. After over two hours, with the assistance of firefighters and emergency services, the pair was successfully rescued.
Currently, the hikers remain in serious condition in the hospital, although their lives are reportedly not in immediate danger. Spanish authorities speculate that all victims were foreign tourists who attempted to escape on foot, abandoning their vehicles to navigate the rugged terrain. Post-mortem examinations and DNA analysis have been conducted to identify the deceased.
Spain has been grappling with frequent and severe heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40C in recent years. The scorching weather has led to numerous heat-related fatalities, including over 1,000 excess deaths during record-setting heat in June.
