Drivers travelling along the A-7 between Malaga and the Axarquia faced disruption on Saturday afternoon, October 24, after a motorhome caught fire near Benagalbon.

Dramatic photographs shared on social media show the front of the white motorhome engulfed in towering flames, with thick smoke rising above the vehicle beside the carriageway. Flames spread to nearby woodland, requiring the intervention of Infoca, Andalucia’s forest-fire service.

The incident was recorded by Spain’s traffic authority, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), at 4.59pm. Its traffic alert identified a vehicle fire affecting the A-7 between kilometre points 966 and 967.9, in Malaga province.

A-7 traffic disruption near Rincon de la Victoria

The DGT initially classified the incident at yellow service level, indicating traffic disruption. Its alert stated that all lanes were affected.

The location is between the municipalities of Rincon de la Victoria and Velez-Malaga, close to Benagalbon, on a stretch of road used daily by residents travelling between the Axarquia, Malaga city and the western Costa del Sol.

Images from the DGT’s traffic cameras later showed the burned-out remains of the vehicle beside the road, emergency personnel at the scene and queues of traffic building up behind the incident.

Motorists reported delays towards Torre del Mar, although the full extent and duration of the congestion have not been confirmed. The A-7 has seen other unusual incidents, including an earlier lorry fire near Rincon de la Victoria that caused lengthy motorway queues.

What caused the motorhome fire?

The photographs appear to show the fire concentrated around the front of the motorhome, potentially in the engine compartment. However, the cause has not been confirmed, and there is no verified information about whether anybody was injured. The stretch of motorway, with a steep incline, and often rapid changes of gear, has become notorious for engine fires in older vehicles over the years.

Drivers approaching an incident of this kind should slow down, follow instructions from emergency personnel and traffic officers, and leave enough room for emergency vehicles to pass. Anyone encountering stationary traffic should avoid using the hard shoulder to bypass the queue, as it may be needed by emergency services.

Motorists heading between Malaga and the Axarquia should check the DGT’s live traffic updates before setting off, particularly if travelling through Rincon de la Victoria or towards Torre del Mar.

The DGT alert confirmed that the fire was first reported at 4.59pm on Saturday. At the time of the available information, it was not clear when traffic returned to normal or what caused the motorhome to catch fire.

Residents in Elviria and Las Chapas are facing longer journeys and concerns over road safety after a key A-7 motorway exit serving Golden Beach was closed before its replacement access was ready.

The closure, which took place in the week beginning September 21, has triggered criticism of Marbella Council, the central government and the arrangements surrounding a new luxury housing development.

Why was the Elviria motorway exit closed?

The affected access, identified as junction 1034, serves the southern part of Elviria, including Golden Beach. Acciona Inmobiliaria, the developer behind the BLU residential project at Estrella del Mar, carried out the closure after receiving authorisation from Spain’s road authority.

The development is planned to contain 58 luxury apartments and 88 townhouses. The approved plans include changes to the local road network and an alternative route using the exit near the Don Carlos hotel.

Authorities have argued that the old junction presented a safety risk because drivers had to stop before joining the busy A-7, leaving little room to accelerate into traffic.

Residents desperate due to longer journeys and jams

The timing of the closure has become a major source of anger. Local property professional Michael Moon also reported that some residents were experiencing journeys of 15 to 20 minutes for trips that had previously been short, as drivers tried unfamiliar routes through surrounding streets.

The disruption could also affect customers travelling to nearby shops, restaurants and beach businesses, although individual businesses’ financial losses have not been established.

Council accused of knowing about the closure

Marbella Council initially complained that it had not been given adequate warning and called for the access to remain open until alternative routes were ready.

On September 30, the council confirmed that it had written to the central government’s road authority requesting the temporary reopening of the links. It warned that poor signage and unexpected manoeuvres were creating additional safety concerns.

However, a political dispute has since intensified. Local reporting published on October 7 said Mayor Ángeles Muñoz had granted Acciona a local works licence in July 2025 covering the closure. A further local licence for improvements to the alternative route was issued in August 2026.

The PSOE opposition has accused the mayor of presenting herself as unaware of a project the council had authorised. The council’s initial position was that the closure had happened without adequate advance notice to residents.

Will access to Golden Beach improve?

The wider El Rosario-Elviria area has long needed better connections, with plans for service roads intended to improve access to the A-7. For residents, the immediate question is whether the alternative route will be completed and properly signposted, and whether local streets can cope with the diverted traffic.

The closure also raises a wider question for Marbella as development continues along the coast: should existing road connections be removed before replacement routes are ready for the people who depend on them every day?