Blaze tears across popular tourist resort on Costa del Sol leaving shops and restaurants devastated
A massive blaze has engulfed a popular Spanish tourist resort, leaving shops and restaurants devastated.
Footage of the scene in Malaga shows flames tearing across buildings as black smoke billows across the skies.
It is believed the fire broke out in forests surrounding the Laguna Village shopping, restaurant and beach bar complex in Estepona.
Shop manager Kate Ozog, 40, told local news site Olive Press there was “nothing left” of the once thriving businesses.
Laguna village, puro beach pic.twitter.com/XxIpuVA9uj
— Albertolopezk (@Albertolopeezk)
“The restaurants, the shops, everything is gone. Twenty shops or something – all gone," she said.
“It’s been such a tough summer and now the fire. We can do nothing. We have to start from scratch.”
Qué angustia y cuánta tristeza produce ver como arden dos de los parejas naturales más importantes de nuestro país como son El Valle del Jerte y La Vera. Todos los veranos se repite el mismo desastre en España. #Extremadura pic.twitter.com/uut0EhGTzh
— Edu Calle (@EduCalle_)
Authorities were worried at the blaze’s proximity to a petrol station, fearing a potential explosion, Olive Press reported.
The fire took hold at around 1.45pm, with emergency services declaring an emergency shortly before 4pm, according to local reports.
Fire services used helicopters to extinguish the blaze from the air, which they later confirmed had been contained.
Estepona en un centro comercial y ha atravesado la autovía y se ha pasado a los chringuitos de Pura beach
[Junto al hotel kempinski pic.twitter.com/RVBmnbd1SR— Ma Mots (@Mamots)
The luxury five star Kempinski hotel, located next to the complex, was forced to evacuate all 80 guests shortly before 3.30pm, according to Olive Press.
They were allowed to return to their rooms once the situation had been brought under control.
Some 30 homes in the vicinity were also forced to evacuate.
Fortunately no one was injured in the blaze.