A British couple was rescued from a ravine in Spain after being caught in the wildfires that swept rapidly through Almeria province, according to local media reports. The pair are believed to have been hiking when the fire reached them. They were found badly burned and semi-conscious, then taken to hospital, where they are now in intensive care.
Rescue officers discovered the couple near the village of Bedar in the early hours of Friday after hearing calls for help. One officer said the search team followed the sound down a hillside before reaching them. Another rescuer said the couple had severe burns over 40% of their bodies and were in critical condition when found.
Firefighting efforts continue
Authorities said on Saturday that firefighters had made substantial progress in containing the blaze. Cooler winds and higher humidity were expected to help crews, while about 600 of the nearly 1,500 people evacuated in the province were told they could go home. The fire has burned through 6,600 hectares and killed at least 12 people, including four Britons, though the victims have not yet been officially identified.
Hundreds of firefighters, along with military and law enforcement teams and 30 aircraft, have been deployed. The fires come as a sustained heatwave has driven dangerous conditions across southern Europe this summer, with France, Portugal and Spain all facing severe wildfire outbreaks.
Source: bbc.co.uk
