Benahavís wildfire forces evacuation of nearly 2,000 residents

A forest‑urban fire ignited on Thursday, July 9, near the Montemayor urbanisation between Estepona and Benahavís, close to kilometre 1068 of the AP‑7 highway. The blaze spread rapidly, prompting the preventive evacuation of about 2,000 people from neighborhoods including Parque Botánico, Los Flamingos, the Four Seasons complex, Marbella Hills and Caserías del Esperonal. By the following day, nearly 1,800 evacuees had returned to their homes while 370 residents of the Montemayor urbanisation remained confined for safety.

The fire forced a temporary closure of the AP‑7 between km 1,054 and 1,070; the road was reopened after the fire was contained. Emergency services mobilised a large response under the Plan Infoca, with 235‑297 personnel, more than 120 ground firefighters, dozens of fire engines, autobombas, several helicopters, and fixed‑wing aircraft. Coordination was led by the Junta de Andalucía’s delegate Patricia Navarro and the Group of Emergency of Andalucía (GREA). The Red Cross set up about 50 beds in the Benahavís sports hall, though most evacuees stayed with family, friends or in local hotels.

No fatalities were reported; the incident generated roughly 300 emergency calls. By 20:30 on July 10 the fire was declared stabilised, and the remaining emergency assets were gradually withdrawn.