Fuengirola residents demand action as railway bridge deteriorates despite repeated warnings.

Residents in Fuengirola are increasingly concerned about the condition of railway infrastructure after another incident involving falling concrete from the elevated railway structure near Los Boliches station on Tuesday, November 10.

An elderly local woman was walking close to the station when pieces of concrete reportedly began falling from the structure above her. Concerned that somebody could be seriously injured, she immediately contacted the emergency services.

Police vehicles and two fire engines arrived within minutes. Firefighters subsequently removed fallen concrete and other loose material from the structure in an attempt to reduce the danger to pedestrians and passing traffic.

Photographs taken at the scene show a substantial area of damaged concrete, with sections of reinforcing metal exposed and visible deterioration around the affected area. A hole approximately one metre long was also reported in the concrete structure supporting the railway.

The incident has once again raised questions about the maintenance of the coastal railway, particularly as the central government, who is legally responsible in this case, have reportedly been warned about the problem previously. Today, nothing but a strip of police tape warns of the danger of falling concrete.

Adif warned but concerns continue

According to information provided by another concerned resident, both Fuengirola Local Police and the town hall have notified Adif, the state-owned company responsible for Spain’s railway infrastructure, about the deterioration. However, the local Malaga government says that despite these notifications, the situation has not been properly addressed.

The latest emergency response involved firefighters removing loose material, but residents want to know whether a comprehensive structural inspection has been carried out and when permanent repairs will take place.

There were also initial concerns about whether trains should continue running while firefighters dealt with the situation. Services were reportedly allowed to continue, with Renfe ordering trains to reduce their speed when passing the affected section.

In a previous incident, a pedestrian narrowly avoided being struck when a piece of concrete fell from the elevated railway structure at Los Boliches station. Firefighters attended and Local Police recorded a formal statement.

Read the earlier report: Crumbling railway: Fuengirola pedestrian narrowly avoids falling concrete at Los Boliches Station.

The recurrence of falling concrete in the same station area, following the earlier incident, raises fresh questions about what action was taken after the first warning.

Costa del Sol infrastructure under scrutiny

Concerns about deteriorating infrastructure are not limited to Fuengirola. Several Costa del Sol mayors have been publicly demanding improvements to transport links and greater investment in infrastructure.

Mijas mayor Ana Mata recently criticised the lack of progress, saying that the area had effectively been left with infrastructure dating back to the 1980s.

Speaking at a mobility forum in Malaga on November 12, she said: “En materia de infraestructuras, nos hemos quedado en los años 80.” (In terms of infrastructure, we’re stuck in the 80s). Her comments reflected growing frustration about the pressure on roads and public transport as the population of the Costa del Sol has increased.

Estepona mayor José María García Urbano has also repeatedly called for improvements to the A-7, including better access arrangements and investment in the busy coastal road.

For residents, the concern is increasingly about whether essential infrastructure is being maintained sufficiently, rather than simply whether new projects are being delivered. Many locals now complain how it looks like it is all going to “rack and ruin.”

Railway disasters increase public concern

The latest Fuengirola incident comes at a particularly sensitive time for Spain’s railway network. The January Adamuz disaster, which claimed 46 lives, and the October 28 collision near Urda, which killed 69 people, have shaken public confidence in railway safety.

The consequences have extended to the highest levels of the Transport Ministry. Óscar Puente resigned as Transport Minister on November 3, accepting political responsibility for the Urda disaster. Adif president Luis Pedro Marco de la Peña subsequently resigned. The tragedies have also prompted renewed demands from railway workers for greater investment in maintenance and improved safety procedures.

Although there is no suggestion that the damage at Los Boliches is connected to either railway disaster, the latest incident has added to public anxiety about the condition of the country’s transport infrastructure.

For the resident who raised the alarm in Fuengirola, the concern is straightforward: people should not have to walk beneath a railway structure fearing that pieces of concrete could fall on them.

With previous warnings reportedly already passed to Adif, residents now want answers about inspections, repairs and who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the structure is safe.

How many more warnings will it take before something is done?

Tired legs, wide smiles and a welcome that only a close-knit community can give. The Chaparral 7 have finally arrived safely back in La Cala de Mijas, and the mood on the seafront was pure joy.

Chaparral 7 finish their 100-kilometre walk in La Cala

Seven friends set off from Nerja on Tuesday, November 10, determined to raise money for two much-loved animal rescue charities, ACE-SHIN and Donkey Dreamland. Four days, lots of laughs and 100 kilometres later, they reached the Torreon in La Cala de Mijas right on time at 3.45pm on Friday, November 13, to a crowd that had been waiting patiently to cheer them home.

Residents and visitors turned out in numbers, clapping, waving and snapping photos as the team came into view. Familiar faces joined the welcome too, with Jasmine Harman, Heather Mills and Mark Clattenburg on hand alongside a Channel 4 production team to greet the walkers across the finish line. Fabienne Paques from ACE-SHIN and Amaya Isert of Donkey Dreamland were both there as well with big smiles to join the welcome.

Rain had only just cleared, and the sun came out in time for the big moment. Remarkably, every one of the walkers looked fresh and in high spirits.

€17,000 so far raised for ACE-SHIN and Donkey Dreamland

Total raised stands at €17,000 at the time of writing, a figure that will go a long way for the animals in their care. ACE-SHIN, based in La Cala de Mijas, rescues and looks after animals in need, while Donkey Dreamland gives rescued and retired donkeys a safe and happy home.

Organisers had hoped to reach €20,000, and donations are still welcome for anyone who wants to help the team get there. Every euro goes towards the daily care of the animals who depend on these charities. Sponsors Runway Glass & Window Cleaning helped back the challenge from the start.

Rain, chiringuitos and plenty of laughs

Shaun, one of the team, told Euro Weekly News he was really happy, as was everyone else, and admitted he was glad it was not five days!!! Everyone did well, he said, even though the group had to battle four hours of on-and-off rain while walking past Malaga.

Spirits stayed high, helped along by regular dips in and out of chiringuito.. Despite the wet weather, Shaun described the whole experience as great.

How you can still support the Chaparral 7

The team were finishing up at the beach then heading on over to local’s favourite Biddy Mulligan’s Irish pub, where supporters could meet the walkers, join the raffle and give a little more to the two charities. Anyone who missed the finish can still donate through the Chaparral for Good website at chaparralforgood.com.

A rainy coastline, a big-hearted community and seven determined friends have shown once again what local people can achieve for animals in need.

A rabies infection is not something anyone wants to discover in their neighbourhood. Once symptoms develop, the disease is almost always fatal, making prompt treatment after exposure essential. For dog and cat owners in Ceuta, the latest confirmed case is another reminder of why keeping vaccinations up to date matters, particularly in a city bordering a country where rabies is still present.

The latest infection involved a dog that crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on October 28. Fortunately, it was spotted at the Tarajal border crossing and captured less than 30 minutes later, before it could come into contact with residents or other animals. The infection was confirmed on November 12 by Spain’s National Centre for Microbiology at the Carlos III Health Institute. 

Dog showed worrying symptoms after crossing border

The dog’s vaccination status was unknown when it entered Spanish territory. Guardia Civil officers spotted it near the border and alerted the animal collection service, which managed to capture it shortly afterwards.

Its condition was already extremely poor. The animal was severely emaciated, had a limp in one leg and displayed continuous, frantic running behaviour. Given these symptoms and its arrival from a rabies-endemic area, veterinary authorities suspected infection and decided to euthanise it immediately.

Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed rabies using immunofluorescence and PCR, which detect the presence of the virus. One important detail is that the dog remained under continuous surveillance following its capture. Authorities confirmed that it had no contact with people or other animals, meaning no human or animal exposures have been identified in connection with this case. 

Second rabies case recorded in Ceuta this year

Unlike mainland Spain, where terrestrial rabies has been eradicated, Morocco continues to report infections in both animals and humans. The country’s National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) identifies rabies as an endemic disease found across much of its territory, with dogs acting as the main reservoir of infection. 

The scale of the problem remains significant. According to the World Health Organisation, 451 human rabies cases were documented in Morocco between 2000 and 2022, averaging around 20 deaths annually. Animal infections are also regularly reported, with stray dogs representing a major source of transmission. 

Why pet owners need to take rabies seriously

Although Spain and its islands have been free of terrestrial rabies since 1978, imported cases continue to occur occasionally in Ceuta and Melilla because of their proximity to countries where the disease remains present. The Ministry of Agriculture stresses that vaccination is one of the most important tools for preventing the spread of rabies. In Ceuta, annual rabies vaccination is compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets, and owners must keep their animals’ vaccination records up to date.

The disease affects the central nervous system of mammals and can spread to humans through the saliva of an infected animal, usually following a bite or scratch.  Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually always fatal. Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal suspected of carrying rabies should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes before seeking urgent medical attention. Preventive treatment can stop the disease developing if administered promptly. Dogs, cats and ferrets in Ceuta must be vaccinated against rabies annually, with owners required to keep their animals’ vaccinations up to date.