A British couple, Pete and Fran Gillam, have been named among 13 people killed by wildfires in Spain's Almería region, as authorities race to use DNA to identify victims who could not escape the blaze.
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Key facts
- A British couple, Pete and Fran Gillam, have been confirmed among the 13 people killed in wildfires in Spain.
- The couple lived in Bédar, the village hit hardest by the fires on Thursday.
- Authorities are using DNA samples to identify victims who were unable to escape.
- A local government leader described the situation as a 'state of climate chaos', according to the Guardian.
A British couple have been named among the 13 people killed by wildfires in Spain, as authorities work to use DNA to identify victims who were unable to escape the blaze, according to the Guardian.
The couple, Pete and Fran Gillam, lived in Bédar, the village that bore the brunt of the wildfires on Thursday. Their deaths were confirmed by their family, the Guardian reported.
Authorities have appealed for DNA to help identify bodies, as they race to establish the identities of those who did not manage to flee the fire. The blaze struck the Almería region.
A local government leader said ‘we are in a state of climate chaos’, the Guardian reported, underscoring official concern about the scale and severity of the fires.
The overall death toll stands at 13, with the effort to identify all victims still ongoing according to the reporting available.
Why it matters
Wildfires in southern Europe have become an increasingly deadly summer hazard, and the deaths of residents including foreign nationals highlight the human cost. The description of the situation as 'climate chaos' by a local leader points to growing concern about extreme heat and fire risk in the region.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the British victims of the Spanish wildfires?
They have been named as Pete and Fran Gillam, a British couple who lived in the village of Bédar in Spain's Almería region. Their deaths were confirmed by their family, according to the Guardian.
How many people have been killed in the wildfires?
According to the Guardian, 13 people have been killed by the wildfires in Spain.
Why are authorities using DNA to identify victims?
Authorities are using DNA samples and have appealed for DNA because some victims were unable to escape the blaze, making identification difficult, the Guardian reported.
Timeline
- British couple killed in Spanish wildfires as authorities race to identify victims
The Guardian World: Appeal for DNA to help identify bodies as local government leader says ‘we are in a state of climate chaos’ A British couple have been named as two victims of the wildfires in Spain that have killed 13 people, as authorities race to use DNA to identify those who did not manage to
- British couple named among 13 killed in Spanish wildfires
The Guardian World: Pete and Fran Gillam confirmed dead as authorities use DNA samples to identify victims of blaze in Almería A British couple have been named among the 13 people killed by wildfires in Spain, as authorities race to use DNA to identify victims who were unable to escape the blaze. Pe