Fire at Ibis Hotel in Malaga Remains Unextinguished for Two Weeks. The fire at the Ibis hotel in central Malaga is still not out. Emergency services are working around the clock, but the blaze inside the building persists. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
In the center of Malaga, efforts to deal with the aftermath of a major fire at the Ibis hotel have been ongoing for more than two weeks. Since May 25, the fire that started at the Le Grand Café next to the Guadalmedina River has not been fully extinguished. Despite the rapid evacuation of guests and prompt work by firefighters, smoldering pockets still remain inside the building, and smoke continues to escape from the upper floors.
The main challenge is related to the building's structure: in addition to metal elements, wood was used in the floors. After several hours of burning and heat accumulation inside, the structure became unstable. Because of the risk of collapse, firefighters are forced to work only from the outside, which makes it impossible to reach the hottest areas. According to the head of the city fire department, Salvador Castillo, this has significantly delayed the firefighting process, despite large amounts of water being used.
Inside the building, the slow smoldering of wooden structures continues, reminiscent of embers in a cooling barbecue: there is no visible fire on the outside, but high temperatures persist within. As experts note, the proximity of the Guadalmedina River creates an additional challenge—the air currents bring in oxygen, sustaining the smoldering. Experts emphasize that the swift evacuation and activation of the alarm system helped prevent casualties.
Currently, two fire brigades are on duty at the building, carrying out round-the-clock cooling and preventing re-ignition. Malaga authorities state that both affected properties had all the necessary fire safety documentation. However, due to debris and the risk of collapse, police and municipal specialists have not yet been able to enter to investigate the cause of the fire or assess the condition of the building.
An inspection revealed that there is no serious damage to the northern part of the building, but on the first floor there was a partial collapse of the ceilings. Authorities have required the owner to fence off the area, close all openings, and reinforce the structures to allow safe access for experts. It was also decided to dismantle the air conditioning system on the roof. The final date for complete extinguishing of the fire has not yet been announced: cooling operations are ongoing, and only after they are completed will specialists be able to begin the investigation and assess the building's condition.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. It is known that the plastic décor of the café may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, although all materials complied with building regulations. The hotel was in the process of approval to increase the number of floors.
The fire incident drew criticism from the opposition. Representatives of the Con Málaga group stated that the number of firefighters in the city is lower than it was twenty years ago, despite population growth and increased tourism. Málaga authorities have promised to increase the fire department staff to 400 by 2028, but emphasize that the lack of resources did not affect the response to this fire.
Fires in public buildings in Spain always draw increased attention to safety and emergency readiness. For comparison, measures to strengthen school oversight were recently discussed in Catalonia after incidents involving police — details of this case are available here. In Málaga, the authorities are focusing on the need to revise insulation standards between commercial spaces and residential or hotel areas to minimize the risk of fire spreading in the future.
According to RUSSPAIN, Spain enforces strict technical fire safety regulations for hotels and restaurants. However, in practice, even with full compliance, a combination of wooden structures and complex architecture can pose additional risks in the event of a fire. Soon, Málaga authorities are expected to review requirements for new projects and strengthen monitoring of existing buildings in the city center.
