Majority of Spain wildfire victims confirmed as foreign nationals

Spanish authorities have confirmed that foreign nationals, including seven Britons, were among the 13 people killed in last week’s wildfires in Almería province, following the completion of post-mortem examinations.

According to officials, 12 of the victims were foreign nationals, including seven from the UK, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the US. The remaining victim was a Spanish citizen.

The fire, which has now been contained, burned through around 7,000 hectares of land after sweeping across parts of southern Spain during a period of extreme heat. Nearly 1,500 people were evacuated as emergency services battled the blaze.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said it was supporting British nationals affected by the fires and their families while remaining in contact with the Spanish authorities.

The incident highlights the importance of coordinated crisis response during large-scale natural disasters, including emergency assistance, family liaison, repatriation support, and ongoing case management for affected travellers.

The latest update follows ITIJ’s earlier reporting on the Almería wildfires, which have become among the deadliest in Spain’s recent history amid another summer of extreme temperatures and heightened wildfire risk across Europe.

The incident follows a series of weather-related travel disruptions across Europe, including major wildfires near Paris that recently affected road and rail services.