A gas cylinder explosion has left a restaurant in the Axarquia region in tatters.
The incident occurred in the village of Sayalonga on Monday night and caused part of the building to collapse.
The blast occurred at around 8.30pm in Plaza Don Rafael Alcoba, in the heart of the municipality that is popular with British expats and tourists.
According to officials, the explosion happened on the upper floor of a two-storey restaurant while the business was open to the public.
The force of the blast caused the entire upper section of the property to collapse, leading emergency services to fear people could be trapped beneath the rubble.
Firefighters from the Provincial Fire Consortium’s Velez-Malaga station rushed to the scene and immediately began clearing debris and searching the damaged structure.
At least two people were treated by paramedics at the scene, although authorities said there were no reports of any serious injuries.
Search for trapped victims
Fire crews spent more than an hour combing through the wreckage to ensure nobody had been trapped by the collapse.
They also located and removed additional gas cylinders from inside the property to eliminate the risk of further explosions.
A residential apartment was located on the building’s second floor. Firefighters later accompanied the tenant back inside so she could retrieve essential belongings and personal items.
The woman will now need temporary accommodation while engineers assess the structural condition of the building and determine whether it is safe to return.
Nearby buildings damaged
The explosion’s shockwave also caused damage to neighbouring properties.
Officials confirmed that the façade and at least one window of a nearby building were affected by the blast.
Once emergency operations were completed, the area was sealed off and secured.
Technical experts will now inspect the property to determine the full extent of the damage and what measures may be required before the building can be used again.
The firefighting operation lasted approximately one hour and 25 minutes, with crews focused on searching for possible victims, removing hazardous materials and ensuring the safety of residents and nearby buildings.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
