Spanish authorities confirmed that 13 people died in wildfires that swept through Almería province, Spain, on Tuesday, July 15th, 2026. Of the victims, seven were from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States, according to a statement cited by AFP and local media.

The victims comprised eight women and five men, all adults. Among the British nationals who died were Pete and Fran Gillam, a couple who lived in the village of Bédar, the area most affected by the fires. Their daughter, Danielle Gillam-Kirton from Sheffield, expressed heartbreak on Facebook after receiving police confirmation that her parents did not survive the fire.

British resident Malcolm Timbrell, 70, who also lives in Bédar, survived the wildfires and spoke to the BBC outside his destroyed home. He recounted seeking refuge in a line of abandoned cars, four of which combusted instantly, but the last two, though badly damaged, survived. Timbrell's wife and friends are believed to be among those killed.

Authorities reported that the fire, now contained, burned approximately 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land. Nearly 1,500 people were evacuated as firefighters battled the flames.

Sources