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A major wildfire has broken out near a Costa del Sol village popular with wealthy British holidaymakers and expats.
At least 11 helicopters, 11 airplanes and more than 100 firefighters raced to tackle the blaze close to Benahavis, a short drive from Marbella.
The fire broke out near the Ermita del Rosario area of Benahavis, Malaga at around 1.41pm on Sunday afternoon.
A column of smoke rising from the flames was visible this afternoon from Costa beaches where tourists were soaking up the sun in eighty-degree heat.
The wildfire burned through the hillsides close to the mountain village as shocked residents watched on.
Civil Protection chiefs warned locals: ‘Close your doors and windows and avoid going out.’
One person was burnt while trying to extinguish the fire and a firefighter was injured after falling while trying to tackle the blaze, local media reported.
One resident said: ‘Benahavis is in a terrible state. We managed to get out. They aren’t letting anyone in anymore. The vegetation along the entire road leading to the village is on fire. It’s horrible.’
A major wildfire has broken out near a Costa del Sol village popular with wealthy British holidaymakers and expats
The blaze broke out near the Ermita del Rosario area of Benahavis, Malaga, at around 1.41pm on Sunday afternoon
Meanwhile, a luxury residential estate near the spot where the wildfire started was evacuated this evening.
The gated area of Montemayor Alto is home to around 125 upmarket villas. Some 50 people were evacuated.
Emergency Level One was declared shortly after efforts to tackle the blaze, which started by a small Catholic chapel on the outskirts of Benahavis just over a mile from the centre, got underway.
Andalucia’s acting minister for health and emergencies Antonio Sanz confirmed a warning known as an ES-Alert had been sent to people in Benahavis via their mobile phones.
He said just before 3pm local time today: ‘We have sent an ESAlert message to the population of Benahavís due to the evolution of the fire.
‘If you are in the area, shelter inside a masonry house or building. Close doors and windows. Follow the instructions from 1-1-2 and the emergency services. Avoid risks.
‘Our deepest gratitude goes to the professionals who are giving their all, with effort, commitment, and extraordinary coordination.’
Gusts of 50km/h (30mph) were recorded and were expected to continue through the day, hampering efforts to quell the fire.
A wildfire in mountains near Benahavis in June 2022 led to the evacuation of 2,000 people from the centre of the town of Benahavis and injured three firefighters.
At least 11 helicopters, 11 airplanes and more than 100 firefighters raced to tackle the blaze close to Benahavis, a short drive from Marbella
A column of smoke rising from the flames was visible this afternoon from Costa beaches where tourists were soaking up the sun in eighty-degree heat
Today’s drama comes just over two months after a wildfire in Bedar in the south-east Spanish province of Almeria which caused the deaths of 15 people including nine British people.
Expat Michelle Leake, a carer for a 93-year-old British woman who also died, lost her fight for life in the early hours of Tuesday after nearly two months in a specialist burns unit at a hospital in Seville.
Benahavis is a popular Sunday lunch destination for British holidaymakers and expats.
Boris Johnson holidayed at Tory peer Zac Goldsmith’s £25,000-a-week home just outside Benahavis while he was Prime Minister.
