A significant wildfire has erupted near Benahavis, a village on Spain's Costa del Sol known for its popularity with British tourists and expatriates. The fire began Sunday afternoon near the Ermita del Rosario area, prompting an immediate response from emergency services.
More than 100 firefighters, supported by 11 helicopters and 11 airplanes, are working to contain the inferno. A column of smoke from the blaze was visible from local beaches, where temperatures reached eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Civil Protection advised residents to close doors and windows and remain indoors.
One individual sustained burns while attempting to extinguish the fire, and a firefighter was injured after a fall. Residents described the village as being in a dire state, with the vegetation along the road leading into Benahavis on fire. A luxury residential estate, Montemayor Alto, comprising approximately 125 villas, was evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The emergency level was raised to One shortly after firefighting efforts commenced. An ES-Alert warning was issued to mobile phones in Benahavis, instructing those in the area to seek shelter in masonry buildings, close all openings, and follow emergency service directives.
Strong winds, with gusts recorded at 50 km/h (30 mph), are hampering containment efforts. This incident echoes a previous wildfire in the Benahavis mountains in June 2022, which led to the evacuation of 2,000 people and injured three firefighters. The region has seen other significant fires, including a blaze in Bedar in August 2026 that resulted in 15 fatalities.