More than 60 guests at a hotel in Benahavís, a Costa del Sol town near Marbella, required urgent medical treatment after showing symptoms consistent with poisoning linked to the hotel’s swimming pool. The incident happened on Sunday during the peak summer travel season, raising concerns about pool safety at resort properties in one of southern Spain’s busiest tourism regions.
The affected guests, including children and elderly people, were treated at the Costa del Sol hospital in Marbella. All have since been discharged, according to local reporting. Other individuals were reportedly treated at the hotel complex itself, although the exact number has not been specified.
Early indications point to a possible technical failure involving the pool’s chemical dosing system. Regional health sources said the investigation is looking at a potential rupture of the pressure pump that injects chlorine and acid into the pool. According to those sources, the differential tripped and the system failed, which meant chlorine and pH controls stopped working while other gases continued to be released.
Pool Chemical Safety Comes Under Scrutiny
Swimming pool poisoning incidents can occur when chlorine and pH levels are not properly balanced. If chemical concentrations are wrong, toxic substances can form and affect people using the pool or standing nearby. Symptoms can include eye and mucous membrane irritation, breathing problems and gastrointestinal issues.
The timing makes the case especially sensitive. The Costa del Sol is deep into high season, when hotels rely heavily on pools as a central part of the guest experience. A pool closure in July can immediately affect families, package travelers and guests choosing resorts specifically for leisure facilities.
Following the incident, the hotel management closed the swimming pool. Guests checking in on Monday were reportedly told at reception that the pool would remain closed all day for “maintenance.” Some guests questioned the explanation, noting that major maintenance is usually expected outside the peak summer period rather than during one of the busiest travel months of the year.
Guests Weigh Complaints After Closure
Some guests are now reportedly considering filing a complaint. A laboratory van from Integralab, a Malaga-based company accredited for analysis of food, water, swimming pools and legionella testing, was seen entering the hotel premises after the incident.
The hotel has not publicly detailed the exact nature of the failure, and the hospital declined to comment on the case. For travelers, the episode is a reminder that pool safety depends on constant monitoring, especially in large hotels where many guests use shared facilities throughout the day.
For Benahavís and the wider Costa del Sol, the incident is unlikely to damage tourism demand on its own, but it does highlight the operational pressure facing hotels in peak season. When a resort amenity fails, the consequences can move quickly from inconvenience to a medical emergency.
