A fire has destroyed the well-known abandoned mud spa building in the Natural Park of Torrevieja lagoon, sending a dense column of smoke visible from several kilometres away, including nearby Los Montesinos. The blaze broke out shortly after 5pm on Tuesday and burned for around three hours.

Two fire engines attended the scene, supported by two Guardia Civil patrols and one Local Police unit. Most of the damage was to the wooden exterior, although crews also had to tackle flames inside the spiral structure. No injuries have been reported.

The building, designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, was promoted by Torrevieja Council but left unfinished more than 15 years ago because it stood on public coastal land without the required authorisation. The project cost the municipality more than one million euros and had suffered several previous fires. The remaining structure had been heavily vandalised and had become a popular urban ruin visited by young people and curiosity seekers.

Investigators believe the fire may have been started deliberately, as more than 20 litres per square metre of rain had fallen in the area since Sunday, making an accidental ignition unlikely.