In the early hours of this morning, the 15th, a fire broke out in Almuñécar’s Hotel Carmen, next to the Majuelo Park.

Although the fire was in an annex of the hotel, the whole building had to be evacuated because of the dense and copious smoke. This was especially difficult as the hotel was full at the time, owing to the local fiestas.

Even so, five guests had to be treated for smoke inhalation and shock. Two of the affected guests were women, aged 59 and 68, and three were men, aged, 40, 68 and 49. All of them are now completely recovered.

According to the hotel owner, Manuel Campos, the fire broke out just before four in the morning – for reasons still unknown – in one of the conference halls.

“We normally use that hall for meetings or parties. It has window on the street side, looking out over Majuelo Park,” explained Sr. Campos, adding that they have been asked to cordon off the area so that fire investigators can work without hindrance.

The theory that the fire could have been caused by something introduced through the window has not been discounted – an act of vandalism. It should be remembered that only last week the cafeteria belonging to the sports stadium suffered a fire on its terrace which completely destroyed the awning.

Update: The hotel is fully functioning and has been since the day after the fire – only the hotel annex was affected.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)