Wildfires in Spain have claimed at least 13 lives, with a British couple identified among the confirmed fatalities. Pete and Fran Gillam, who resided in Bédar, are believed to have perished in the blaze that devastated the village. Their daughter announced the confirmation through social media, stating that authorities had notified the family of their deaths. The family had been searching for the couple since they last communicated on Thursday evening, when the mother sent a message indicating they were evacuating.
Spanish authorities have confirmed multiple identified victims including a British couple, a Spanish man with a British wife, a French woman, and a Belgian man. An additional 93-year-old British woman injured in the fire succumbed to her injuries in hospital. However, many victims remain unidentified due to the severe nature of the burns, prompting officials to request DNA samples from relatives of the missing. Officials have acknowledged uncertainty regarding the total number of missing persons, with 10 formal reports submitted as of earlier this week.
The fire moved with such intensity through the picturesque village that many residents were unable to escape. Evidence of the devastation includes burned-out vehicles on roads leading out of Bédar, with passengers having perished in their cars while attempting to flee. Additional British victims are likely among bodies discovered in a burnt-out right-hand-drive Honda Accord. One British man died in his vehicle while attempting to retrieve his pets during evacuation efforts in the Los Gallardos area.
Extended heatwave conditions across Europe have created circumstances conducive to rapid wildfire spread. High temperatures and dry vegetation have fueled blazes from Spain to France. Regional government officials have linked the severity of the fires to climate change, describing the situation as exceptional and increasingly severe. The British Foreign Office stated it is providing support to affected British nationals and their families in coordination with Spanish authorities.