Hundreds evacuated as huge fire breaks out at tourist hotel in British-favourite holiday hotspot
Smoke could be seen burning into the evening sky as the fire ripped through the hotel
|SER MALAGA
Firefighters have been battling the blaze for several hours
Don't Miss
Most Read
Hundreds have been evacuated after a huge fire broke out at a British favourite holiday hotspot.
Firefighters have attempted to extinguish the blaze at The Ibis Hotel, in Malaga, Spain for several hours after a fire broke out and quickly spread throughout its floors.
Guests and staff began to be escorted out of the hotel at on Sunday night, and none have been injured in the inferno.
The fire, which has burned for nearly 24 hours, started in the attached Le Grand Cafe bar, on the ground floor of the hotel.
It then quickly spread throughout the hotel to the upper floors, with huge billows of smoke being seen from the top of the building.
Benito Martinez, supervisor for the firefighting operation, told Spanish media the fire was now "under control", adding it was likely the firefighting crew would be at the scene all day.
He told Malaga Hoy half of the hotel had been affected by the fire, which was called in at 1.26am (12.26 am BST).
The Ibis Hotel was then evacuated and an operation to combat the fire began - which has been difficult to tackle as some fire is hidden in the building, Mr Martinez said.
The fire previously seemed to be extinguished, before reigniting higher up in the building at 6pm.
He said: "Basically, the entire restaurant's decor is made of wood, and that generated a significant heat load that quickly spread."
Firefighters have attempted to help evacuated guests who have reported passports, plane tickets and documents remain in the hotel.
Six fire fighting crews, with three water tankers, four fire engines, and two aerial ladder trucks attended the scene, with emergency service personnel expected to remain on Tuesday.
SPAIN - READ MORE:
Domingo Gil, who had been staying in the the third floor of the hotel, said he "woke up and started smelling smoke".
"We realised there was a fire, put on our shoes, and ran away. In three or four minutes, everyone was out on the street outside the hotel. We saw the restaurant sign fall down," he said.
He said his belongings, including his phone, medication, cards and money, were still in the building.
José Alarcón, another guest staying at the third floor of the hotel, said he left with "only the clothes on our backs".
"We're waiting for the fire to be extinguished and to see when we can get our things out, if anything is left," he added.
Guests were relocated to other hotels at around 5.30 in the morning, Mr Gil added.
"How can a relatively new building burn from top to bottom and the flames not be controlled all day long," one onlooker said on social media.
The Ibis Hotel was constructed in 2007 and its interior is now largely gutted, according to Spanish outlet 101tv.es.