British couple return to village at heart of deadly Spanish wildfire

Local officials had previously said they did not sound the alarm on Thursday night because the virus could have reached people beyond the affected area, complicating evacuations.

Authorities also said police went door to door or called residents giving instructions on how to shelter in place or evacuate safely.

The Andalusian regional government and the Spanish Civil Guard police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the devastated area of ​​Los Gallardos, home to many foreigners, on Monday.

According to local media reports, among those caught in the fire was a British couple who was found badly burned and semi-conscious in a stream bed.

The couple is thought to have gone for a walk as the fire spread rapidly across the state on Thursday. They were evacuated and taken to hospital, where they were in intensive care.

This is already among the deadliest wildfires in Spanish history.

While 20 people lost their lives in a fire on the Canary Island La Gomera in 1984, 21 people, including nine children, died in a forest fire near Lloret de Mar in northeastern Spain in 1979.

Climate change is increasing temperatures around the world, causing increased summer heat waves and more intense wildfires.

Additional reporting by Kostas Kallergis and Juan Dominguez.