British woman becomes 13th person to die after wildfire in Spain, officials say

A British woman who was taken to hospital after a wildfire swept through southern Spain has become the 13th person to die in the tragedy, officials in the Andalusia region have said.

The 93-year-old woman was among eight people admitted to hospital following the blaze, four of them with serious injuries.

The Andalusian regional ​government said the woman, who had pre-existing medical conditions, had been admitted ‌to hospital on Friday morning with burns covering 20% of her body.

Regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz expressed ​condolences to the family of the woman and others killed in the wildfire, which burned more than 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) in Los Gallardos in Almeria province when it broke out on Thursday.

Authorities have not yet formally identified any of the dead victims.

Sky News has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for comment.

Spain's forensic services data unit, the CID, said that two more people had been reported missing after it started working with authorities ⁠in Britain, France and Belgium to formally register their cases, ⁠bringing the total to 10.

It said it was now allowing family members overseas to report their loved ones missing and provide DNA samples in ‌their countries of origin, and it expected to receive more reports in the coming days.

Authorities said the dead may include some of the individuals reported as missing.

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Most of the victims are believed to be British and Belgian nationals.

Belgian businessman Stanislas Verdonckt died as the fire advanced on the mountain village of Bedar, just north of Los Gallardos, according to his son, Thomas-Wolf Verdonckt.

Authorities have said those who died ignored advice telling them to shelter in place, but Mr Verdonckt said his father was not told the fire was heading his way, or that it would be safer to stay at home.

The president of the regional government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, said at around midday on Sunday that the fire had been contained and its perimeter secured.

More than 1,000 residents ⁠were given the all-clear to return to their homes in the evacuated villages north of Los Gallardos on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Moreno urged citizens to remain vigilant throughout the summer, noting that in Andalusia, Spain's most populous region, an average of 15 forest fires ⁠were breaking out every day, rising at times to as many ​as 22.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is due to visit the affected area on Monday.

(c) Sky News 2026: British woman becomes 13th person to die after wildfire in Spain, officials say