Fire at ZM Restaurant in La Manga: Thick Smoke and Emergency Evacuation. A fire broke out this morning at the ZM restaurant in La Manga. Black smoke was visible for several kilometers. Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene and contained the blaze.
Wednesday morning on La Manga began with an alarm: the ZM restaurant caught fire in the popular area near Isla del Ciervo. A thick column of black smoke rose above the coast and became visible from a considerable distance, causing concern among locals and tourists. In the first minutes after the fire started, emergency services received more than twenty calls reporting flames and heavy smoke.
Firefighting and rescue consortium units, as well as firefighters from Cartagena, promptly arrived at the scene. Their actions quickly brought the situation under control, preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring properties. According to available information, none of the staff or guests were injured—everyone in the building was evacuated in time.
Response and aftermath
The fire at ZM restaurant drew notable attention not only because of the dramatic smoke, but also because the establishment is known for its appearance in the first episode of the 'Servicio secreto' program with chef Alberto Chicote. This was, in fact, the very first place Chicote visited incognito to assess the team’s work and offer solutions for improving the service.
After the incident, Alberto Chicote publicly expressed support for the ZM restaurant team via his social networks. He noted that despite the significant damage, no one was hurt, and wished the staff the strength to overcome the aftermath of the fire.
Context and significance
The ZM restaurant is located in one of the busiest areas of La Manga, which is traditionally crowded with tourists during the summer season. The incident occurred at around 8:30 a.m., when the establishment was just preparing to welcome guests. Thanks to the prompt response of emergency services, casualties were avoided and damage to surrounding infrastructure was minimized.
Fires in catering establishments on the coast are rare but always draw increased attention due to dense development and the high influx of people during the season. In this case, according to local authorities, there was no threat to other properties or visitors.
