Seven British people died in wildfire in southern Spain, police confirm

Seven British people were among those who died in a wildfire in southern Spain, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

The Los Gallardos blaze engulfed 70 square kilometers (27 square miles) of forest and farmland on July 9.
A 93-year-old English woman, who died in hospital from sustained injuries, was the latest victim to be identified, bringing the death toll to 13.

Spanish police said the other victims who have been identified include three people from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States, as well as one Spanish citizen.

Hundreds of firefighters tackled the inferno in Bedar, Spain. / Credit: AP

Families of all 13 victims have been informed, the police said.

British couple Pete and Fran Gillam were among those killed in the fire, which broke out in Bedar, a town in Spain’s Almeria province with a population of less than 1,000.

Posting on social media, their daughter, Danielle Gillam-Kirton, from Sheffield, said they are “heartbroken” and “trying to come to terms with the devastating news”.

British couple Pete and Fran Gillam were killed in the fire. / Credit: Danielle Gillam-Kirton

Four bodies were found in a burnt-out car with a right-sided steering wheel, implying they were British.

Helicopters dropped water as hundreds of firefighters worked to tackle the inferno.

Authorities confirmed the deceased were seven Brits, three Belgians, one French, one American and a Spanish citizen. / Credit: AP

Spain has seen many wildfires this month.

A blaze in Tarragona in Catalonia on Sunday burnt 110 hectares of land. On the same day, smoke was seen billowing from a wildfire in the León province.