Huge fire erupts in Benidorm: Tourists watch from their hotel balconies as plane and helicopter swoop in to drop water on nearby inferno – while firefighters evacuate the most at-risk homes
- Fire began at around 4pm today and is still burning close to popular resort
- Local reports say the blaze has already ravaged several areas in Armanello
A huge fire is spreading through Benidorm as firefighters attempt to control the blaze.
The fire began this afternoon at around 4pm and is still burning close to the popular British tourist resort in Spain, which has led to some of the most at-risk homes being evacuated.
Footage shows tourists looking on in horror as thick clouds of black smoke emanate from a field beside their hotel. A plane and a helicopter could also be seen flying overhead dropping water over the flames.
Emergency services were seen trying to extinguish the blaze and local reports say the fire has already ravaged several areas in Armanello.
The emergency services tweeted: ‘The security forces posted there inform the Emergency Coordination Center that they have had to evacuate some scattered and occupied houses near the area of the fire in a preventive manner.’
Flames rip through trees in a field beside hotels. Local reports say the fire has already ravaged multiple areas in Armanello
A tourist watches as thick clouds of black smoke emanate from a field beside the hotel as the fire continues to spread
In an update at 9.20pm, they wrote that the fire was under control, but noted that units and fire trucks remained in the area.
They added that Benidorm City Council has allocated the municipal sports centre to accommodate people who cannot yet return to their homes.
The cause of the fire is still unknown but authorities believe it may have started in nearby abandoned plots.
A spokesman said: ‘It is [in] the waste lands and spreading.
‘It can be seen from Calpe.’
Calpe is located 15 miles northeast of Benidorm, giving an indication of the fire’s scale.
Firefighters assist in the operation. The emergency services tweeted: ‘The security forces posted there inform the Emergency Coordination Center that they have had to evacuate some scattered and occupied houses near the area of the fire in a preventive manner’
A plane is used in the attempts to control the fire, which began this afternoon at around 4pm and is still burning close to the popular British tourist resort of Benidorm
A helicopter can be seen flying past a hotel and dropping water as part of the attempts to calm the blaze
The fire can be seen close to one of the hotels as a helicopter swoops in drop water on the flames
A firefighter helps to control the fire. The cause is still unknown but authorities believe it may have started in nearby abandoned plots
Alicante Provincial Fire Department Consortium posted photos on Twitter of crew members dealing with the blaze
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