Málaga hotel fire flares up again as building safety fears grow

Firefighters remain at the scene as the blaze reignites for a second time and engineers assess damage to the structure

Firefighters were still working at the scene of the badly damaged Ibis Málaga Centro hotel yesterday after the fire reignited for a second time, with flames and thick smoke once again visible from the top floor

The major fire that devastated the Ibis Málaga Centro hotel earlier this week reignited again, forcing emergency crews to remain at the scene three days after the blaze first broke out in the city centre.

Fresh flames and a large plume of smoke were seen rising from the top floor of the building on Pasillo de Guimbarda, alarming residents and businesses nearby after the Ayuntamiento had announced on Tuesday May 26 that the fire was under control and “practically extinguished.”

The blaze originally started at around 1.26am on Monday May 25 inside Le Grand Café, located on the ground floor of the building, before rapidly spreading to the hotel above. More than 100 guests had to be evacuated during the night, although no injuries have been reported. The fire left large sections of both the restaurant and hotel severely damaged.

Firefighters say the operation has proved especially difficult because of the building’s structure and the materials inside. Wooden flooring, combustible interior elements and oxygen entering through broken windows have continued feeding hidden hotspots deep within the property.

For safety reasons, much of the firefighting operation has been carried out externally using aerial ladder trucks and fire engines. At some stages, crews used up to 5,000 litres of water per minute while trying to cool the building and prevent further flare-ups.

Technical inspections carried out on Wednesday by Málaga’s Municipal Urban Planning Management confirmed a partial collapse in part of the first-floor slab near a structural joint inside the building.

Although inspectors have not detected signs of major instability in other accessible areas so far, the Ayuntamiento has ordered urgent precautionary measures to protect pedestrians and stop unauthorised access.

The measures include fencing off the entire perimeter of the building, sealing entrances and carrying out progressive structural reinforcement work while debris is removed from inside. Permanent surveillance has also been ordered to prevent vandalism or people entering the dangerous site.

During the technical inspection itself, firefighters were still dealing with active hotspots on the upper floors while smoke continued to emerge from the structure.

Málaga mayor Francisco de la Torre said a full technical investigation would be carried out once conditions inside the building are considered safe enough. “We need a rigorous, precise report as soon as possible, but a very thorough one, that analyses where it originated, what the causes were, and then how it developed,” he said. "Let's wait for the reports so we can draw our conclusions," he added.

The Scientific Police will now investigate the exact cause of the fire, which has become one of the most complex urban fires Málaga city centre has faced in recent years.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Málaga/X.com