Residents were forced to flee their homes on Saturday afternoon after a fast-moving fire broke out along the banks of the River Segura in Murcia.

Footage shared online shows huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and threatening nearby properties.

The blaze erupted shortly before 4pm in the El Malecon area, behind the Maristas school, where dense reeds and dry vegetation lining the riverbank quickly caught fire.

Witnesses reported seeing flames spreading rapidly through palm trees and towards homes close to the river.

A total of 21 firefighters were initially deployed, but the scale of the blaze soon prompted authorities to request aerial support.

Two emergency helicopters were dispatched from bases in Alcantarilla and Sierra de la Pila, joining ground crews battling the flames from both sides of the river.

Firefighters concentrated much of their effort on the right bank near Rincon de Seca, where the fire was advancing most aggressively, although flames were also spreading through vegetation on the opposite bank in La Arboleja.

Local Police cordoned off affected areas and assisted with precautionary evacuations while residents and onlookers watched the dramatic scenes unfold from a distance.

The towering smoke column could be seen from kilometres away, sparking fears of a repeat of last year’s devastating Los Garres wildfire, which burned almost 200 hectares and forced residents from their homes.

Residents in neighbouring Alcantarilla reported ash falling from the sky as strong winds carried smoke and debris across the region.

Local neighbourhood associations renewed complaints about the build-up of dry vegetation and overgrown plots near residential areas, warning that such conditions significantly increase the risk of major summer fires.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. However, early indications suggest it may not have been started deliberately.