MADRID — Spanish authorities on Wednesday confirmed the identities of all 13 people killed in a devastating wildfire that swept through the southern province of Almería last week, after forensic examinations established that 12 of the victims were foreign nationals, marking one of the country's deadliest wildfire disasters in recent years.
Officials said the victims included seven British citizens, three Belgians, one French citizen, one U.S. citizen and one Spanish national. The identifications were completed through biological and forensic analysis because many of the bodies were severely burned, authorities said.
The blaze erupted near Los Gallardos in Andalusia during a period of extreme heat, drought and strong winds, rapidly spreading across forests and farmland before firefighters were able to bring it under control. Regional authorities said the fire burned about 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres), making it one of the region's most destructive wildfires in recent memory.
Authorities had initially reported that more than 20 people were unaccounted for following the fire. After completing victim identification and tracing residents, officials said everyone previously reported missing had now been accounted for.
The wildfire also left several people injured, with some requiring hospital treatment for burns sustained during the evacuation. The official death toll reached 13 after a 93-year-old British woman died from her injuries days after the fire, according to the Andalusian regional government.
Spanish emergency services, supported by aerial firefighting aircraft and military emergency units, worked for days to contain the blaze as high temperatures and dry vegetation complicated operations. Authorities have continued to warn residents across parts of Spain to remain vigilant as elevated wildfire risks persist during the country's summer heatwaves.
The disaster occurred as much of Western Europe experiences repeated periods of exceptionally hot weather that have fueled major wildfires in several countries. Scientists have said prolonged heat and drought have increased fire danger across the Mediterranean region, while officials have urged the public to follow evacuation and safety instructions during wildfire emergencies.
With all victims now formally identified, Spanish authorities said the focus has shifted to supporting affected families and continuing the investigation into the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports have indicated the blaze may have been triggered by a fallen electrical cable, although the official investigation remains ongoing.
