Spain identifies nine victims of deadly wildfire
Details Emerge from Spain's Deadliest Wildfire
By Nina Lopez and Emma Pinedo
Victim Identification Progress
BEDAR, Spain July 13 (Reuters) - Nine victims of one of Spain's deadliest wildfires on record have been identified, authorities said on Monday, as forensic teams continued efforts to confirm the identities of three others through DNA analysis.
Latest Identifications
The latest three victims identified on Monday include a married couple of Belgian origin and a woman from the United Kingdom.
Victim Demographics
In total, the victims of the fire identified so far are four men and five women, of whom eight are foreigners and one is a Spaniard, authorities said.
Of the 13 people who died – including a 93-year-old British woman who perished from burn injuries on Sunday in a hospital – five were from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium and one from France, as well as one Spanish national. All of them were adults.
Impact and Circumstances of the Wildfire
Extent of the Damage
The blaze has scorched about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres).
Personal Stories
The Story of Stanislas Verdonckt
Among the Belgian victims was Stanislas Verdonckt, a 63-year-old businessman, who had attempted to flee the area via a mountain track but was engulfed by flames, his sister, Sophie Vandebroek, said in an email. His dog Schubi was also found close to his body, she said.
Trapped Residents
Spain's deadliest wildfire in more than four decades trapped residents in a rugged area with scattered homes as they attempted to escape the flames on Thursday night.
Contributing Factors and Response
Climate and Environmental Conditions
Spain and much of Southern Europe face increasingly severe wildfire seasons that scientists have linked to climate change. Experts say unusually heavy spring rainfall this year spurred vegetation growth across parts of southern Spain, creating abundant fuel that later dried out in extreme summer heat, helping the fire spread rapidly.
Missing Persons and Identification Methods
Relatives had filed 10 reports of missing people. Authorities said that some of those reports match some of the victims identified but did not specify how many.
Investigators said DNA analysis remains the only viable primary identification method because of the condition of the remains.
Current Status and Official Statements
Andalusia's regional government on Monday lowered the wildfire alert to the pre-emergency phase after the blaze was stabilised, evacuation orders lifted and residents were allowed to return to their homes.
The regional chief Juan Manuel Moreno told reporters in the evening that the fire seemed to be "under control."
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo and Aislinn Laing; additional reporting by Jesús Aguado; Editing by Charlie Devereux, Hugh Lawson and Mark Porter)
