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Wildfire in Almería Kills 13 as Blaze Is Contained

Forensic teams using DNA to identify victims face an inquiry into a disputed power‑line failure that has raised questions about evacuation warnings.

Overview

  • A fast‑moving fire that began on Thursday tore through Los Gallardos and Bédar, burning about 7,000 hectares and forcing more than 1,400 people to evacuate.
  • Regional authorities confirmed 13 deaths so far and said several victims are foreign nationals, including multiple British and Belgian citizens, with some bodies so badly burned that DNA is required for formal ID.
  • Civil Guard search teams found two badly burned British hikers alive in a ravine after hearing faint cries, and both are in intensive care with burns reported at roughly 40 percent of their bodies.
  • Officials say the blaze has been stabilised and some evacuees have been allowed to return but an official probe is examining a disputed claim that a downed power line started the fire.
  • Relatives and survivors dispute parts of the official account of warnings and shelter instructions, and the CID is accepting overseas missing reports and DNA samples to speed identification and consular support.