Spanish authorities have launched an investigation after a 66-year-old British woman was found dead outside a burning farmhouse in rural Almeria, as her husband screamed for help inside. Emergency services were alerted to the blaze in Antas at 8.25am local time and firefighters were quickly dispatched to the scene.
However, upon arrival, they found a woman who police have confirmed is a Brit, already dead outside opposite the farmhouse, while her husband shouted for help from a balcony fitted with bars. Authorities were able to rescue him by removing the balcony’s railings with a crowbar. The man, 76, was treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters revealed that the woman’s death was not directly related to smoke inhalation and her injuries were inconsistent with the typical effects of fire, according to The Olive Press.
Also at the scene were the couple’s son and his girlfriend. It remains unclear whether they escaped from the blaze or arrived at the house later.
Antas Mayor Pedro Ridao said the City Council is awaiting the autopsy results and the Civil Guard’s investigation to establish the circumstances of the death.
He added that the council will not take any official steps, such as declaring a period of mourning, until it is clear whether the incident was a tragic accident or a violent crime.
According to a report by the Mapfre foundation and the professional association of firefighters published in November, there are more than 30,000 building fires each year in Spain, which in 2024 claimed the lives of 172 people while they were inside their homes or in stairwells or landings. Most died from smoke inhalation caused by fires originating from electrical panels, heaters or cigarettes, according to Sur in English.
Almost half of the deaths were of people aged 65 and over, the age group most vulnerable to these accidents: two-thirds were men. Most deaths in the home occur at night, between 8pm and 8am. The risk of dying in a fire is also almost five times higher among those who live alone than among those who share a dwelling, the report added.