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WATCH: Wildfire at Torrevieja lagoon spreads frighteningly close to homes
The blaze broke out at the abandoned municipal spa with smoke visible across the Costa Blanca
Spain’s dreaded forest fire season is continuing without let-up, with major blazes breaking out across the country since the start of the summer. In the last few days alone, wildfires have scorched areas on the outskirts of Madrid and devastated parts of Tarragona, near Barcelona. The fire in Catalonia was so powerful that smoke travelled hundreds of kilometres down the coast, reaching as far as the Mar Menor and Orihuela Costa.
On Saturday July 19, flames erupted in the protected natural park surrounding the Torrevieja lagoon, dangerously close to the Torreta III and Las Torretas residential areas. The fire began near the abandoned municipal mud spa, known locally as "la caracola," just before 7pm.
¡Incendio en el entorno de la laguna de Torrevieja! Esta tarde se ha declarado un incendio en la zona de la laguna de #Torrevieja. Los bomberos ya trabajan en su extinción, pero el viento lo va a complicar. Los vídeos nos los envían Miguel y Gastón. pic.twitter.com/F1rFLSNd5V
— Proyecto Mastral (@ProyectoMastral) July 19, 2025
Firefighters from Torrevieja and Orihuela, along with local police and the Guardia Civil, were quickly on the scene.
The fire tore through dry salt marshes, reed beds and forest vegetation around the salt lake. Strong westerly winds helped it move fast but also thankfully pushed it away from nearby homes.
By 10pm, the blaze was brought under control, though a thick column of smoke was visible from surrounding towns including San Miguel de Salinas and Los Montesinos.According to the emergency services, the flames started near the structure of the spa building itself.
Designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the project was launched by the City Council but has stood abandoned for more than fifteen years. More than a million euros were spent on the site without ever obtaining the necessary coastal permits.
The half-built structure has since been heavily vandalised and has become a magnet for young people and curious visitors. It is now considered one of the most prominent examples of failed urban projects from Spain’s early 2000s construction boom.The Torrevieja fire is the latest in a string of worrying outbreaks across Spain as extreme summer heat and dry conditions continue to spark new blazes.
Images: Proyecto Mastral
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