A wildfire that broke out on the outskirts of Algeciras on Sunday afternoon has been brought under control.

The inferno torched an estimated 50 hectares of land and forced the temporary closure of part of the A-7 motorway.

Emergency services declared the blaze under control at 3am on Monday following an overnight operation involving firefighters and the INFOCA wildfire service.

The fire, which affected the Los Alamillos and Aguamarina areas, prompted authorities to shut the A-7 towards Cadiz as flames spread close to the carriageway. The road has now fully reopened.

Although the fire is under control, firefighters remain at the scene to extinguish remaining hotspots and prevent flare-ups.

Crews are paying particular attention to areas containing PVC pipes, which could reignite due to lingering heat.

Early investigations suggest the fire may have started at two separate locations – one on Avenida Aguamarina and another opposite Algeciras Fire Station in Los Alamillos.

Investigators are examining whether the blaze was deliberately started after witnesses reported seeing two marine flares fired shortly before the fire broke out.

Algeciras mayor Jose Ignacio Landaluce praised the emergency services for their swift response, which involved 14 firefighters from the Cadiz Provincial Fire Consortium, supported by nine emergency vehicles, as well as INFOCA crews with two fire engines and two specialist wildfire teams.

Despite the scale of the fire, which is estimated to have scorched around 500,000 square metres of vegetation, authorities confirmed no injuries were reported.

It comes as much of Andalucia remains under a red alert for extreme wildfire risk.

Meanwhile, the Costa del Sol is under and orange warning on Monday for extreme temperatures of up to 41C.

The scorching conditions are being caused by the dreaded terral, a dry, hot wind the blows down to the coast from inland areas.

According to state weather agency Aemet, highs are expected to peak at around 39C along the coast, and 41C in inland zones.

INFOCA reminded residents that the highest level of fire risk brings strict restrictions aimed at preventing wildfires.

These include a ban on lighting fires or carrying out activities that could ignite vegetation, leaving marked roads or tracks in forest areas, and throwing cigarette butts or other burning objects from vehicles.

Authorities are urging residents and visitors to take extra care while temperatures remain high, warning that even a single spark could trigger a fast-moving wildfire under the current conditions.

Read moreAndalucia news at the Spanish Eye