Fire Destroys Le Grand Café and Forces Hotel Evacuation in Malaga. On Monday night, a fire broke out at Le Grand Café in the center of Malaga. The blaze completely destroyed the establishment and forced the evacuation of guests from the Ibis Centro hotel. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
A major fire broke out in central Malaga at night: the blaze engulfed Le Grand Café on Pasillo Guimbrada, completely destroying the establishment and forcing the emergency evacuation of guests from the neighboring Ibis Centro hotel. The incident occurred around one in the morning, when firefighters received the report of the fire. Just minutes later, fire crews, along with officers from the National and Municipal Police, were on the scene. Due to the incident, traffic in the area of the Santo Domingo tunnel was paralyzed, causing severe traffic jams at the start of the working day.
The flames quickly spread throughout the café's interior, consuming its finishes and acoustic materials. According to SUR, staff members were present in the building at the time and sounded the alarm. By morning, employees of the establishment began gathering at the scene, many visibly emotional and discussing the aftermath. Some noted that it was a true disaster for them, as their familiar jobs and sense of stability vanished overnight.
The fire led to a full evacuation of the Ibis Centro hotel: according to estimates, about a hundred guests left the premises. Most were temporarily accommodated at the neighboring Hotel Málaga Centro. The smell of smoke lingered in the area, and particles of ash floated in the air for hours. Local residents and passersby shared videos and photos of the scene on social media, while the streets remained eerily quiet, punctuated only by car horns from vehicles stuck in traffic on Mármoles Street.
The causes of such rapid fire spread have not yet been determined. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, but it is already clear that restoring Le Grand Café will take months. The latest post from the establishment on social media was dated May 21, where it was called a 'meeting point in the center.' Now this status will have to be postponed indefinitely. Fortunately, according to available reports, no one was injured.
Fires in urban areas of Malaga are rare; however, this incident coincided with the recent launch of a summer fire prevention campaign. As noted by SUR, the situation has raised many questions about the work of emergency services and the state of fire safety in the historic center. In light of this, it is worth recalling that the region has already experienced extreme weather events: last season Malaga endured abnormal heat and set temperature records, which also increases risks for urban infrastructure.
For reference: Malaga is one of the largest tourist centers in Andalusia, which traditionally sees an influx of visitors in the summer. Under such conditions, the issues of safety and rapid service response become especially important. City authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and pledged to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
