Flames return to Malaga Ibis Hotel’s upper floors one week after original blaze

Flames reappeared in the upper floors of the Ibis Hotel in Malaga around 9.30am on Sunday. Visible smoke and occasional flames showed through windows in sections difficult for fire crews to reach internally. Firefighters previously focused efforts entirely on external operations using aerial ladders, pumps and water hoses to cool the structure and contain the activity within.

Thick smoke columns rose once more and became noticeable from several points across the city. This latest development occurred exactly seven days after the initial fire broke out in the same building.

The Ibis Hotel in Malaga is back on fire today. This is the fourth time the fire was supposedly put out, and then after a day or so, it started back up. We have been staying in Malaga the last week and it is crazy. pic.twitter.com/Yjx8M80Dlm

— Eddie Gray (@eddiegray) May 30, 2026

Firefighters continue external operations on site

Crews are continuing cooling tasks from both the front and rear of the building with support vehicles still deployed. One fire engine, one aerial ladder and one water tank remain in position at the Ibis Malaga Centro in Pasillo de Guimbarda next to the river. Hot spots can reactivate during ventilation efforts, yet the council states the incident is under control.

Operations have run without pause for six and a half days. Firefighters have accessed the roof to create additional ventilation routes that release accumulated heat and gases from ceilings and internal spaces. Smoke continues to exit as crews complete full extinguishing work.

Safety fencing encloses hotel and surroundings

Owners of the building have now installed complete perimeter fencing around the structure. This step prevents injury from falling debris and stops unauthorised access to the site. Pedestrian movement is blocked along the section of Pasillo de Guimbarda between Aurora and Trinidad bridges. Vehicles keep moving normally on Calle Cerrojo.

Malaga council confirmed these closures via its social media account. Measures form part of broader precautions to protect the public and the immediate area.

Original outbreak started in ground floor cafe

The blaze began a week ago on Monday, May 25 inside Le Grand Cafe on the lower level of the building. Fire spread quickly through the hotel above and caused extensive damage. No injuries were reported.

Material inside the building, high heat load and broken windows that allowed oxygen entry fuelled rapid spread and complicated initial extinguishing, although the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Plans had been in place to duplicate the size of the hotel by adding another 3 floors. Now, it appears that the whole structure is irretrievably damaged and will likely have to be demolished.

Council orders urgent structural protections

Urban planning technicians have been inspecting accessible parts of the building together with firefighters. They had already seen a partial collapse of the first-floor slab in the north section while the overall structure appeared stable in examined areas. South side access has been limited by debris, but the ground floor showed resistance. Exterior brickwork looked bulging with risk of pieces detaching and falling into the street.

Bomberos mantiene el operativo en el incendio registrado la madrugada del 25 de mayo en un edificio del Pasillo de Guimbarda, que está controlado y prácticamente extinguido. pic.twitter.com/Xafgacb3Fm

— Ciudad de Málaga (@malaga) May 27, 2026

Malaga council then instructed owner Anta Res Soli IEI, S.L. to carry out immediate actions under technical supervision. These include perimeter fencing, boarding up facade openings, debris removal and progressive propping of the south ground floor. Continuous surveillance must remain in place until full closure takes effect. The same company owns nearby Ibis Budget and Novotel Malaga Centro properties.

La propiedad del edificio de Pasillo de Guimbarda afectado por el incendio registrado la madrugada del 25 de mayo ha procedido al vallado perimetral del inmueble para impedir daños a terceros por caídas de material y el acceso de personas no autorizadas. pic.twitter.com/SmbPfnMhPl

— Ciudad de Málaga (@malaga) May 30, 2026

Council officials and the Malaga fire service continue monitoring the site while continued focus on prevention and cooling is carried out and until extinguishing work finishes completely.