Huge wildfire erupts in British holiday hotspot as blaze sparks emergency evacuations

A huge wildfire has erupted in the Costa del Sol village of Benahavis, near the popular tourist destination of Marbella, triggering emergency evacuations across the area.

The fire is believed to have started inside a small Catholic chapel around 3pm, then quickly spread across the surrounding hillsides.

Dramatic scenes showed towering flames tearing through treetops as dense smoke engulfed the region, with emergency alerts sent to residents' phones urging them to flee.

The upmarket gated community of Montemayor Alto, which contains roughly 125 luxury villas, was among those evacuated.

Regional emergency coordination authorities confirmed the estate's evacuation shortly after 6.30pm local time.

About 20 aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing planes, have been deployed, along with more than 60 firefighters, to tackle the blaze.

Initially, five helicopters were scrambled to the scene before the aerial response was scaled up significantly.

Gusting winds reaching speeds of up to 30mph have severely hindered efforts to bring the fire under control.

Residents who remained were told to stay indoors with all doors and windows firmly shut as thick smoke filled the air.

Andalucia's Acting Minister for Health issued direct guidance to anyone in the affected area.

The minister said: "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."

Emergency text messages were sent across the region as anxious locals sought safety.

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The blaze tore through vegetation on the hillsides surrounding the mountain village, and residents watched in shock as it advanced.

Authorities later restricted access to Benahavis, preventing anyone from entering the area while the firefighting operation continued.

The Benahavis wildfire comes just months after devastating fires swept through the Almeria province, claiming 15 lives on and after July 9.

Nine of those killed were British nationals.

In recent days, British expat Michelle Leake died in hospital roughly two months after sustaining severe burns in the fires.

She had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Seville's Virgen del Rocio University Hospital.

Lisa Fryett, a 47-year-old mother of three from Canvey Island, Essex, also perished at the same Seville hospital on July 28 following the Bedar wildfire.

Her partner Simon Batchelor was airlifted to the hospital's specialist burns unit in a critical condition.

A 93-year-old British woman, who has not been publicly identified, died in hospital three days after the initial blaze.

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