A thick plume of smoke from large wildfires ravaging parts of Portugal, Huelva, and Extremadura has reached the Costa del Sol, causing alarm and provoking calls to local emergency services.
The haze, visible since early Tuesday, August 19, blanketed western Costa del Sol and inland Malaga municipalities with a dense fog. Residents, alarmed by the strong smell of burning and reduced visibility, feared local fire outbreaks. In response to the flood of enquiries, town halls have been forced to issue statements to calm the concerns of local residents.
Montecorto’s town hall was particularly clear, stating, “The suspended smoke you see comes from wildfires in Portugal, Huelva, and Extremadura. There are no fires in our area.”
The alarming wildfires have spurred some local authorities to show that they are taking the threat more seriously. Malaga and Benalmadena councils have recently announced immediate measures to cut back overgrown grass and scrubland in the immediate vicinity of housing estates and urbanisations.
Satellite imagery clearly shows the massive smoke column stretching across western Iberia. Similar concerns have arisen in mountainous areas of Huelva, Seville, and Cádiz, including Ubrique, Zahara de la Sierra, and Grazalema.
Some regions, like Castilla y León, have activated precautionary protocols, advising residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities due to high levels of suspended particles. Meteorological services predict the situation will persist until wind patterns shift. Authorities are reminding the population to call 112 immediately if they spot actual plumes of smoke or fire to activate emergency response protocols.