Marbella local police officers have been carrying out a new set of preventive controls in the La Campana district to reinforce road safety throughout the city and support safer conditions for all road users.

Alcohol and drug testing operation

Police officers joined forces with the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) for a campaign focused on alcohol and drug detection. Their main objective centred on finding drivers who could endanger everyone using the roads. Recent national data puts the problem into context. Civil Guard traffic officers completed 144,346 drug tests in 2025. This total exceeds the 122,938 tests from 2024 and represents the highest number since 2021. Sanctions with loss of points, reached 70,717 drivers last year for drug driving. The figure increased by 6,403 from the year before.

Motorcycle and moped inspections

Officers carried out specific inspections on motorcycles and mopeds during the controls. Teams verified that vehicles met all technical requirements and followed current regulations fully. Extra attention went to unauthorised modifications, exhaust systems and further components which might compromise safety or generate complaints from locals. These actions help ensure greater safety for every person on the roads in the district.

Alcohol controls and safety research

Alcohol test numbers climbed in recent years to more than six million checks in 2025. Year-on-year comparisons prove difficult following changes in recording methods. Research from Valencia University indicates accident risk can triple even at alcohol levels of 0.5 grams per litre or less. Traffic authorities maintain action on several fronts at once. Surveillance campaigns run continuously together with regulatory updates and education initiatives aimed at drivers. These measures operate under the Safe System framework set out in the 2030 Road Safety Strategy. Sustained reductions in road accidents and their impacts form the central purpose.

Marbella police dedication to road safety

Preventive operations of this kind demonstrate the ongoing commitment from Marbella police to safer mobility for residents and visitors. They promote rule compliance and help reduce local road accidents. Responsible driving continues to save lives in towns across the country.

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Emergency services have activated level 1 protocols after a forest fire broke out in Archez and rapidly spread to neighbouring areas in the Axarquia region of Malaga.

Officials from Plan Infoca were quick to respond to the blaze first reported at 12.44 in the Barranco de la Fuente area. Crews deployed multiple aircraft, including two light helicopters, one semi-heavy helicopter, two ground-loading planes and a coordination aircraft. Ground teams consisted of 17 personnel supported by a water tanker.

15/07/2026. 🕗 15.30 h.

🔴 ACTUALIZACIÓN #IFÁrchez, #Málaga | Trabajamos en su estabilización.

MEDIOS:
🚁 2 ligeros, 2 semipesados, 1 mando
🛩️ 4 carga en tierra, 1 coordinación
👩‍🚒 80 efectivos por tierra
🚒 2 autobombas
📡 1 equipo de mando
🩺 1 unidad médica pic.twitter.com/gosG06CKQD

— EMA INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) July 17, 2026

Fire jumps between villages calling for evacuations

Local authorities confirmed the flames moved quickly from Archez into Canillas de Albaida and Competa. One mayor described how the fire crossed a gully despite initial containment efforts, burning through avocado cultivation plots and forcing preventive evacuations of homes and an entire urbanisation.

🔴 Elevamos a fase de emergencia, situación operativa 1, el #PlanInfoca en la provincia de #Málaga por la evolución del #IFÁrchez

🔥 Como medida preventiva, se recomienda evitar la zona y seguir las indicaciones de los servicios de emergencia.

🏠 Quédate en casa. Cierra… pic.twitter.com/Bcs6CxxX6b

— Antonio Sanz Cabello (@antoniosanz) July 17, 2026

No personal injuries have been reported so far. Teams focused efforts on protecting residential zones and agricultural land. A road closure formed part of safety measures in the affected zone. Residents received instructions to stay indoors, keep doors and windows shut if smoke reached them, and pay extra attention to children, elderly people and vulnerable groups. People should avoid the area entirely and follow all directions from emergency teams.

Restaurant blaze causes tension in Velez-Malaga centre

Separate from the forest incident, a fire broke out early Friday morning inside Sushi One Asiatico restaurant in Velez-Malaga. Flames started around 10am on the ground floor of a five-storey residential building in Calle Aceitunos, close to Avenida de Las Naciones.

Dense smoke led firefighters to evacuate around 20 residents from the block as a precaution. Fortunately the restaurant was closed to customers at the time, which helped complete the operation quickly without any reported injuries or smoke inhalation cases. Damage remained confined mostly to the interior of the establishment. Investigators pointed to a possible electrical fault or equipment issue rather than any link to the wider fires.

Multiple units from the Provincial Fire Consortium in Velez-Malaga, along with local police and medical services, attended the scene. Officers cordoned off access routes while crews tackled the blaze from several angles. A large plume of black smoke became visible across much of the town, drawing public attention. By approximately 11am, firefighters declared the fire under control and began ventilation and safety checks to prevent re-ignition in ceiling voids or ducts.

Safety advice still key for local communities

Both incidents go to show the heightened alert for the weekend and the high need for vigilance during such dry and hot conditions in southern Spain. Authorities continue to call for caution and full cooperation with emergency instructions in all affected parts of Malaga province. Updates will follow as containment progresses on the forest fire and investigations advance on the restaurant incident

Drivers in Las Lagunas will breathe a sigh of relief as from September they will be able to use the new Los Santos underground car park, after Mijas Town Hall confirmed the long-awaited facility has been completed and is entering its final testing phase.

Final technical testing underway

Mayor Ana Mata visited the completed development on Thursday, July 16 with Infrastructure Councillor Juan Jose Torres to inspect the site before it opens to the public. Construction has now finished following an investment of €15.7 million. During the coming weeks, engineers will carry out final checks on the ventilation, air conditioning, lifts, access barriers and fire protection systems. The council is also finalising the electricity supply contract, a requirement before the official handover of the facility.

Increased capacity to 272 spaces

Revisions to the internal layout have increased the car park’s capacity from the 234 spaces originally planned to 272 without reducing the size of any parking bay. From the total, 200 spaces have already been allocated to local residents through a monthly subscription scheme costing €50, following a public draw held earlier this year. The remaining 72 spaces will operate as short-stay public parking, available through a standard ticketing system, easing the parking issues currently around the busy area.

Designed to improve parking in Las Lagunas

Located beneath Plaza La Cala, Plaza Mijas and Plaza Los Olivos, the four-storey underground facility is connected beneath Calle San Matias. Vehicle access has been created from Calle San Jorge, while the exit leads towards Plaza Mijas. Two pedestrian entrances equipped with lifts and staircases provide step-free access throughout the development.

Speaking during the visit, Mayor Ana Mata said the new infrastructure would improve mobility in an area that has experienced long-standing parking difficulties. Councillor Juan Jose Torres added that July and August will be dedicated to completing the remaining technical tests and correcting any outstanding defects before the scheduled opening in September.