A devastating fire broke out on Thursday evening in the Campanar neighborhood of Valencia, Spain, engulfing a multi-story apartment building and leaving at least four people dead and 14 people missing. The fire started on the fourth floor of one part of the complex and quickly spread to an adjacent building. Dramatic videos from the scene show the entire complex consumed by flames as firefighters desperately fought to extinguish the raging inferno.
Firefighters used a crane to lift two residents from one of the balconies, while a brave fireman had to jump from the first floor to a crash mat below. Dark smoke billowed up into the night sky, and strong winds of up to 40 mph further fueled the fire’s rapid spread. Spain’s Military Emergency Unit deployed 90 soldiers and 40 firefighting trucks to assist in the rescue efforts.
One of the major concerns is that the building’s cladding may have contributed to the fire’s quick spread, similar to the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people. The building featured a polyurethane material that is no longer widely used due to its flammability, along with an aluminum covering. Esther Puchades, the vice president of the College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Valencia, expressed concerns about the materials used in the building’s construction.
The apartment complex is home to approximately 450 people, although it remains unclear how many were present when the fire broke out. The building consists of two towers connected by a “panoramic lift” and houses 138 apartments. Firefighters continued to hose down parts of the gutted building even 15 hours after the blaze began, revealing the charred remains of the structure.
Due to the danger of the building collapsing and the intense heat from the fire, emergency workers were unable to search for possible survivors immediately. Valencia Mayor María José Catalá highlighted these challenges during a press conference. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the scene on Friday to offer his sympathies and support.
The city of Valencia has declared three days of mourning and postponed the start of a month-long annual festival as a mark of respect for the victims of the fire. The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, with many expressing their condolences and support for those affected.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, authorities are determined to ensure that lessons are learned from this tragic event to prevent similar incidents in the future. The focus remains on supporting the affected residents and their families, as well as providing assistance to the emergency workers who risked their lives to combat the blaze.
The Associated Press and Reuters have contributed to this report, providing additional information and updates on the situation. The full extent of the damage and the final number of casualties and missing individuals are yet to be determined, but the impact of this devastating fire will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.
