A MAJOR wildfire has broken out on the Costa del Sol this Sunday, with an emergency alert notification sent to nearby residents urging them to stay indoors.
The blaze broke out near the Ermita del Rosario area of Benahavis, Malaga at around 1.41pm this afternoon, with video footage showing huge plumes of smoke billowing over the landscape.
Andalucia’s regional government has raised the emergency to operational level 1 and sent an ES-Alert notification to residents, ordering those in the northern and western parts of the town and the La Coja urbanisation to stay indoors.
Residents have also been urged to close doors and windows, avoid going outside or exercising outdoors, wear a mask if they must go out and take extra precautions with children, elderly people and anyone with respiratory conditions.
More than 60 firefighters are currently battling the flames, including aerial crews.
Three water tanker vehicles have also been deployed, along with a medical unit.
Olive Press reader Georgi Medzhidiliev said he had been watching the blaze ‘develop for an hour now’.
“Around 2.30pm this afternoon we saw from our apartment in Guadalmina Alta looking north, northwest, a fire picking up around the Montemayor area, and quickly extending across the hills,” said the Bulgarian expat, who lives nearby in Elviria.
“We called 112, who told us they’d already been alerted and the firefighting jets were on the way.
“It looked tricky as winds were picking up and smoke kept on rising from behind the ridge.”
Another resident told the Olive Press: “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.”
The blaze has been described as the ‘Ermita del Rosario fire’ on popular fire app Wildfire Watch.
So far, 233 people have commented leaving photos and videos.
The A-7175 road is currently restricted to traffic due to the ongoing fire.
The wind in Benahavis is currently blowing from the east at approximately 12mph, pushing the flames in a westerly direction towards Estepona and Genal Valley – both of which are heavily protected environmental areas.
In September 2021, the Sierra Bermeja was devastated by a wildfire that led to the death of firefighter Carlos Martinez Haro, who lost his life when he was suddenly encircled by the blaze.
This is a breaking story and will be updated throughout the day.
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