Five people are in a serious condition and at least 72 others are injured after a gas cylinder exploded in a restaurant near Malaga.

The explosion happened during a festival in Velez-Malaga, southern Spain, a destination popular with British tourists.

Couple who met on their balconies during lockdown planning to get married

A small fire broke out after the blast at La Bohemia in the centre of the town and debris was sent flying across the street.

According to local reports a chef alerted diners to a small fire giving time for people to escape and avoiding more casualties.


The town’s mayor said: ‘It appears that there may have been a gas leak with overheating and fire.’

Because of a lack of ambulances, some patients had to be taken to hospital in police cars.

Fortunately none of those injured suffered from life-threatening injuries.