Residents flee to roof of high-rise block of flats after huge fire erupts in Benidorm

Firefighters rescued nine people from the top of a 25-storey residential building in the Costa Blanca holiday hotspot

Terrified residents fled to the roof of a high-rise apartment block in Benidorm to escape a massive blaze that broke out in the early hours of Sunday May 21.

Nine people rushed to the top of the building as smoke bellowed through the 25-storey block and flames ravaged a flat on the ninth floor at around 5.15am.

When fire crews arrived at the high-rise in Calle Esperanto, flames were clearly visible, and firefighters were faced with the complex task of getting inside the flat to tackle the inferno.

The homeowner sustained burns to her arms and direct neighbours were evacuated with self-contained air equipment due to smoke inhalation.

The residents trapped on the roof were escorted to safety just before 6am when the fire had been brought under control, and several were treated for smoke poisoning.

"Most of the residents of the building were told to remain inside their homes, thus preventing them from circulating through the service stairs, through the smoke and noxious gases released in the fire," said the Provincial Fire Consortium.

Five fire engines, including a turntable ladder appliance, and 12 firefighters were deployed, along with several units from Benidorm Local Police and National Police, as well as a SAMU Ambulance and Red Cross personnel.

The blaze was finally declared extinguished at 9.39am and an investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Sunday's fire was the second large blaze in the Costa Blanca holiday hotspot in less than a week.

An enormous fire erupted in the Armanello area of Benidorm on Tuesday afternoon, May 16, sending columns of black smoke into the sky that could be seen for miles. Horrified tourists were spotted watching the inferno from the safety of their balconies as the flames licked through nearby scrubland.

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Image: Consorcio Provincial Bomberos Alicante