Spain: Arson arrest in El Bierzo and high-rise fire in Benidorm

The Guardia Civil has arrested a 71-year-old woman for allegedly committing intentional arson in Cacabelos, El Bierzo. The fire, which occurred in September, completely destroyed one residence and caused significant damage to two neighboring homes. Investigators, operating under ‘Operation LUMECIMA’, discovered a bottle containing traces of an accelerant at the scene and noted a witness saw a person fleeing the area. The suspect has been placed at the disposal of the Ponferrada Court.

In a separate incident in Benidorm, a fire broke out in a ninth-floor apartment of a 16-story building on Avenida Mediterráneo. The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, completely gutted the flat. Four residents were treated for smoke inhalation, with three individuals transported to Marina Baixa Hospital and one to the Benidorm Clinic. Emergency crews successfully prevented the flames from spreading to the rest of the building, allowing neighbors to return to their homes after the operation concluded.