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Emma and Simon Mitchell returned on Sunday to their property in Bédar after regional officials allowed around 600 of the nearly 1,500 evacuated residents back into the fire zone in Spain’s Almeria province. The couple found their house intact even as surrounding hillsides lay blackened and molten vehicle remains dotted the roads, according to a BBC report from the scene. Their 15 chickens had also survived despite the blaze coming within metres of the building, the Mitchells told the broadcaster upon their arrival. Spanish authorities confirmed the fire, which spread rapidly on Thursday amid high winds, had been contained by the weekend after scorching about 7,000 hectares.
The death toll from the wildfire rose to at least 13 on Sunday after a 93-year-old British woman succumbed to her injuries in hospital, Reuters reported, with five of the victims believed to be Britons though identities await official confirmation. Among those affected was a separate British hiking couple found semi-conscious at the bottom of a ravine with burns covering around 40 percent of their bodies, The Times stated, adding that Civil Guard officers heard their calls for help near Bédar and airlifted them to intensive care. Spanish national broadcaster RTVE had earlier detailed how the pair were discovered after rescuers returned to an area they had previously searched. Regional officials noted that police had conducted door-to-door warnings during the emergency.
Emma Mitchell expressed relief at her own property’s survival but voiced horror at the losses suffered by neighbours whose homes had burned, according to the BBC correspondent who accompanied the couple. She criticised local authorities for failing to provide clear evacuation guidance or mobile alerts despite issuing earthquake warnings for distant events, the broadcaster reported her as saying. Mitchell directly addressed officials in remarks captured by the outlet, stating they needed to organise better and avoid victim-blaming those who died without proper instructions. The Mitchells praised local police and firefighters for their response during the crisis.
Reuters detailed how two individuals had been arrested for ignoring police evacuation orders as the flames, fanned by gusts reaching 50 kilometres per hour, swept through the area on Thursday. A separate British family on holiday in Bédar told ITV News they escaped a sudden wall of fire but lost friends in the tragedy, with the husband grabbing only passports before fleeing. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to visit the hard-hit Los Gallardos area, home to many foreign residents, on Monday, according to Spanish government announcements. The fire ranks among Spain’s worst, surpassing some historical blazes in severity if not in total fatalities.
Climate change has contributed to rising temperatures and more intense wildfires across the Mediterranean, a trend highlighted in assessments by the European Commission that link heatwaves to increased fire risk in southern Spain. Data from Spain’s national meteorological agency, AEMET, shows the Almeria region experienced prolonged extreme heat prior to the outbreak, exacerbating dry vegetation conditions. The affected zone includes rugged terrain that complicated both evacuation and containment efforts, Reuters noted in its coverage of the offensive launched by firefighters. Authorities have yet to determine the fire’s precise origin.
The Mitchells had moved to Bédar three years ago to enjoy a quieter life tending to animals but had never received formal fire escape training, they informed the BBC. Their experience mirrors that of other expatriates in the province who have increasingly settled in rural Andalusian villages, drawn by the climate and scenery, according to local residency figures. Power and water supplies remained operational at their property despite the surrounding devastation, allowing a swift return to some normalcy. The couple’s account adds to witness testimonies emerging from the disaster zone.
