Spain: A 93-year-old British woman dies from her injuries, the death toll from the fires rises to 13

The death toll from the devastating forest fires that ravaged the province of Almería in southeastern Spain has risen to 13 after the death of a 93-year-old British woman, regional authorities announced Sunday. She died in hospital from severe burns sustained in the blaze.

According to the Andalusian government, the 90-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room Friday morning with burns covering approximately 20% of her body. Suffering from pre-existing health conditions, she was among eight people hospitalized after the fire, four of whom were in serious condition.

The regional head of emergency services, Antonio Sanz, offered his condolences to the victim's family and the families of the other deceased. He also indicated that the fire, which destroyed more than 7,000 hectares in the municipality of Los Gallardos, was now under control, while urging the public to remain vigilant due to ongoing risks.

Authorities have also allowed more than 1,000 evacuated residents to return to their homes. Despite this improvement in the situation, search operations continue in the disaster areas.

Spanish forensic police have announced that two more people have been officially declared missing, bringing the total to ten. Investigators are working with French, British, and Belgian authorities to identify any potential foreign victims. Families residing abroad can now report missing loved ones and provide DNA samples in their country of residence, and authorities expect to receive further reports in the coming days.