HUNDREDS were evacuated last night as wildfires raged at a popular holiday spot where Brits were celebrating New Year's Eve.
Firefighters raced to tackle the roaring forest blaze that started in Spain's Costa del Sol about 12.30am during fireworks and celebrations - amid speculation a firework may have sparked the inferno.
Expat Brits and tourists are reported to have been among the 300-odd people who were asked to leave their properties, of whom several were treated for smoke inhalation.
British partygoers were filmed watching the apocalyptic blaze helplessly from their apartment balcony in Mijas.
One woman can be heard over the sounds of wailing sirens saying, "It's like watching a film."
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Forest fire specialists said the flames in Mijas, between Marbella and Fuengirola, were advancing at 100ft per minute.
The event was declared a "level one" emergency - the most severe.
According to local media, the fire spread through an area of housing developments and forced the evacuation of about 20 homes.
Firefighters' efforts are said to have been hindered by strong winds of up to 50mph.
The blaze was finally considered under control at 9am this morning, with residents reportedly able to return to their homes some time earlier, about 3am.
Spanish online newspaper El Espanol reported it was not yet known what sparked the fire, but factors such as the temperature and the fact it was New Year's Eve pointed to either arson or negligence.
Many on social media speculated it could have been caused by a firecracker or a rocket.
An investigation is underway.
Firefighting service Plan Infoca officials shared on X, formerly Twitter, that two groups of forest firefighters and two heavy-duty firefighting vehicles were deployed to the scene overnight.
It stated that the fire was controlled at 9am today and wrote at 12.50pm local time: "At this time, the colleagues carry out surveillance, location, auction, and liquidation in the areas that still have hot spots.
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"They will remain assigned with that work today."
