Badly burned British couple rescued from ravine during Spain wildfires

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Badly burned British couple rescued from ravine during Spain wildfires Image source, EPAImage caption, Eyewitnesses described the devastation of the fires as "like a bomb has fallen"ByGabriela PomeroyPublished12 July 2026, 11:06 BSTUpdated 11 minutes agoA British couple have been found down a ravine, badly burned and semi-conscious, after being caught up in the deadly wildfires that tore through Spain's Almeria province, according to local media. The pair are thought to have been out hiking when they were caught up in the blaze, which spread rapidly through the province on Thursday. They were evacuated and taken to hospital where they are in intensive care.

Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the fires, which have claimed the lives of 12 people including 4 Britons, and burned through 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres). The identities of those killed have not yet been officially confirmed. 'Really frightening, unbelievably quick': Witnesses describe fleeing deadly Spain wildfire Published1 day agoSpain battles to contain one of its deadliest wildfires as at least 12 killed Published19 hours agoThe couple were discovered by Civil Guard officers searching for survivors near the worst-hit village of Bedar in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Details

One of the rescuers, Sergeant Pedro Barre, said they heard distant cries for help. "As you gain more experience, something inside you tells you, 'Look again, try one more time,'" he told Spain's TVE state broadcaster. The rescue team followed the sound and climbed down a hillside.

They found the couple in critical condition, semi-conscious and with severe burns covering 40% of their bodies. "Being able to call out in the condition they were in was a titanic effort," said Rafael Zea, another of the officers involved in the operation. "We'll never forget that look of surprise and emotion on their faces," Barre added.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, A car that burned during the wildfires in Almeria province On Saturday the authorities said firefighters had made significant progress in getting the fires under control. Calmer winds and higher air humidity were expected to help the firefighters tackle the blaze. About 600 of the nearly 1,500 people evacuated from the fire zone in Almería province were told they could return, regional emergency chief Antonio Sanz said.

What Experts Say

Image caption, The Los Gallardos area is home to many foreign residentsA sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 40C (104F) has caused wildfires across Southern Europe this summer, particularly in France, Portugal and Spain. On Friday, Los Gallardos mayor Francisco Miguel Reyes told Spanish radio station Cadena SER said "it feels like a bomb has fallen" on the area. "This is the first time we've faced a fire as devastating as this.

"Hundreds of firefighters, military and law enforcement personnel, and 30 aircraft, continued responding to the blaze.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.