British couple rescued as Spain wildfire kills 12

A British couple were rescued from a ravine in southern Spain after being trapped by a fast-moving wildfire that has killed at least 12 people in one of the country's deadliest fire disasters in decades. The couple, found semiconscious with severe burns covering 40 percent of their bodies, were located by Civil Guard officers near the village of Bedar in Almería province during the early hours of Friday, July 10.

The rescue occurred as firefighters battled the blaze, which erupted on Thursday, July 9, and rapidly consumed approximately 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres) of steep, difficult terrain in the municipalities of Bedar and Los Gallardos. Sergeant Pedro Barre, one of the rescuers, said the team heard distant cries for help during a final search. After descending a hillside, they found the couple in critical condition. The pair, believed to have been hiking, were evacuated to a hospital and remain in intensive care. Another officer, Rafael Zea, said their ability to call out in such a state represented a "titanic effort."

Authorities confirmed 12 fatalities from the fire. While formal identifications are pending, regional officials have indicated many of the victims are likely...