British couple return to village at heart of deadly Spanish wildfire
Residents of the Spanish village of Bédar are returning to their homes following a devastating wildfire in Almería province that killed at least 13 people. While some homes were spared, the surrounding landscape remains severely charred, highlighting the intensity of the blaze.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the increasing threat of extreme wildfires in Europe and the challenges of emergency evacuation and disaster management.
Image caption, Emma and Simon Mitchell were relieved to find their home had not been damaged by the fire
As we climbed the winding road to Bédar, we emerged into a charred and desolate landscape.
Molten car parts littered our path and out of the window we saw the whole hillside now coated in a dusty black.
At least 13 people, including five believed by Spanish authorities to be Britons, were killed by Thursday's wildfire in Spain's Almeria province, one of the country's deadliest ever.
The toll rose on Sunday after a 93-year-old woman, believed to be British, died of her injuries in hospital. The identities of those killed have not yet been officially confirmed.
The fire, which has now been contained, burned through about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land, authorities said.
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