A lightning bolt strikes the entrance arch of the Marbella Fair

Marbella/The electrical storm that occurred on Tuesday night has disrupted the San Bernabé Fair in Marbella, where a lightning strike hit the entrance arch of the fairground at night, resulting in the loss of 8,000 lanterns and causing economic damage to the fair vendors due to the closure of activities.

The meteorological phenomenon began around 23:00 and lasted several hours, which forced the closure of activities at the fairground site at night. According to the City Council, a lightning struck the entrance portico, which was repaired within a few hours. The province recorded, just until two in the morning, 1,200 lightning strikes, 300 of which hit the ground.

The electrical storm also caused “the loss of more than 8,000 lanterns installed in the day and night areas,” as well as “damage to the decorative planting,” the City Council highlighted. Additionally, there was a temporary impact on the lighting of the Christ of Love bridge.

Impact on Fair Vendors

The fair vendors also suffered the effects of the storm, which forced them to close rides, stalls, and raffle booths due to the rainfall, on a night that was expected to have a higher volume of people since the following Wednesday was a holiday in the town, and which has dawned as a cleanup day.

Guillermo Piñatel, from the ‘Mario Brox Bouncy Castle’, noted while cleaning the attraction that “the rain fell very badly” on the fair vendors, since Tuesday night was the best day of the fair and "it was cut in half," recording “significant economic losses” on a day when “all attractions were full."

"It's the first time that the Local Police has closed due to rain," Piñatel criticized, stating that in other celebrations it has not been closed due to the presence of precipitation. Thus, he assessed that the police action was due to the fairground being a "floodable area," where there is even a sign warning of this and a stream runs through the middle.

The vendor recounted how the electromagnetic storm caused “a stampede of people,” as well as “complaints from many who had bought their ticket” and the attractions were forced to close. “Marbella should have a glamorous fair, Alhaurín or Estepona have better ones," he criticized. He also denounced the “state” of the fairground terrain at night, where he claims there are children's rides like his “on sand,” so he is asking the City Council to “pave” the area.

Antonio López, who manages the ‘Trampoline Beds’ children's attraction, shared, "At 23:00 we were forced to close, it was very quick and water fell," he recounted about the electrical storm episode, with which "everyone went to take shelter under the bridge" that connects to the La Cañada shopping center. Meanwhile, the vendors took shelter “in the ticket booth to wait.”

He highlighted that the atmospheric phenomenon did not cause damage to the trampolines, since “there is an automatic pilot by which all the fair attractions were turned off,” but they were forced to close, he emphasized. This has led to “losses” on "the best day of the fair and there were many people."

Jason Andrés, from the ‘Joker Jail’ attraction, also noted that there were “losses” on Tuesday night, since "there were many people and they closed the attractions,” although he clarified that there were no damages. The vendor highlighted in response to the complaints of the customers who had purchased their ticket, that it will be valid for all days to ride.

From ‘The Crazy Pot’ they criticized the closure of the attractions. "They shut us down radically and did not warn beforehand," they pointed out regarding the actions of the Local Police, when “there were many people waiting to ride.” According to them, no damage was recorded in the rides, although there were losses, agreeing with other colleagues that yesterday “was the best day and when everyone came."

Food Stalls

The effects of the electrical rain were also felt at the food stalls, such as the ‘Bombazo Burger Joint’, where losses of at least 800 euros were recorded, according to Andrés García. The vendor indicated that there was damaged stock: “The potatoes had to be thrown away and everything went to the trash, the hot dog tray dumped, the electrical storm destroyed the night,” he lamented.

Thus, he requested for the fair vendors that in light of the losses "the days of the fair be extended" or "be compensated with some financial subsidy or a discount" on the fee they must pay to set up.

"We lost a very good day, when there were more people and nothing was done," Trini Santiago pointed out, who indicated that “they had to return the money” to people who had bought their tickets. She also recounted that the fair attendees went to take shelter under the business tent, while the vendors hurried to pack up.

Juan Bartolo, from the 'The Octopus Guy' stall, also highlighted that the rain negatively affected the business. "Everything got wet and we had to throw away a lot of stock," like the already cooked mollusk. The vendor quantified the losses “at about 1,000 euros.” “The police came closing, everyone left and nothing was sold,” he added.

“The storm caused a stampede, there were lightning flashes and the police came saying that we had to close but there was no time for anything," Margarita Marín, from the same stall, pointed out, recounting that people went to take shelter under the awning. Other refrigerated products could be saved, but elements such as “charcoal, paper, or napkins” were affected, she added.

Juan Palomino, from the Basketball games, noted that the rain affected some elements of the stall, with “plush toys getting wet,” in addition to “the loss of customers.” "Everyone started running downhill," he recounted from a night when “there was quite a crowd and they didn’t know where to take shelter,” so from the business, “support was offered to shelter the babies.”