A tragic fire at a nightclub in Murcia, southeastern Spain, claimed the lives of thirteen individuals on Sunday.
The blaze ignited at the Teatre nightclub in the Atalayas district around 6 p.m. local time, as reported by the BBC. Billows of smoke emerged from the windows during one of its busiest times.
Mayor José Balleata shared the heart-wrenching news on X (previously known as Twitter), stating, “It’s with heavy hearts that we report 13 fatalities from the Atalayas nightclub fire.” He further mentioned that the emergency personnel were still working diligently at the site.
The harrowing search led firefighters to discover four victims roughly two hours after the fire’s inception, with another two located 40 minutes later. As the search within the establishment continued, more victims were uncovered.
According to the same report, four individuals are currently receiving medical attention for smoke inhalation. A nearby sports facility is offering counseling services to support those impacted by this tragedy.
Expressing his grief, Mayor Balleata told Spain’s 24-hour TV channel, “We are heartbroken.”
As of now, the origin of the fire is undetermined. In memory of the victims, a day of mourning has been declared, as informed by the BBC. Efforts to locate any missing individuals are ongoing.
Emergency personnel, including the police, took measures to stabilize the club’s interior, ensuring it wouldn’t collapse. Their efforts also focused on locating and identifying the victims.
Authorities have warned that the number of casualties might rise.
In response to the tragedy, the city council has announced three days of mourning, during which flags on public buildings across the Murcia region will be lowered to half-staff.
Four individuals receive medical attention for smoke-related injuries, while a nearby sports facility serves as a counseling center for the impacted.
King Felipe VI of Spain has extended his heartfelt sympathies, stating, “We stand with the families of the victims and the entire city.”
This inferno is considered the most devastating Spain has seen in over three decades. A tragic memory from 1990 lingers when a fire at a Zaragoza nightclub claimed 43 lives.
