Pool Malfunction Sends 60 Hotel Guests to Hospital in Southern Spain

A vacation in Benahavís turned into a health scare for at least 60 tourists, including children and the elderly, who were hospitalized after swimming in a hotel pool. Local newspaper Diario Sur reports that guests began showing symptoms of poisoning shortly after taking a dip at a hotel in this popular southern Spanish resort town.

According to the report, the pool’s filtration system stopped delivering chlorine and regulating the water’s pH balance, but continued releasing what authorities describe as “other gases.” Emergency crews rushed the affected guests to Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella, where they received treatment for toxic exposure. Specialized technicians are now investigating the exact nature of the gases involved.

The pool has been sealed off for maintenance, and hotel management is cooperating with authorities. Several guests are reportedly preparing to file complaints against the hotel. While no serious long-term injuries have been confirmed, the incident has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a relaxing summer getaway on the Costa del Sol.