At least 13 people died this Sunday morning, October 1, in a fire at a nightclub in Murcia, in the south-east of Spain. The terrible toll continues to rise, with police continuing to search for bodies in the rubble.
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“ Six new bodies were found in the rubble of the nightclub. The death toll stands at 13. Other victims are still possible », announced the emergency services shortly before 2 p.m. (12 p.m. in universal time). A few minutes earlier, the mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, announced to the press at the scene of the tragedy that “ four corpses had been extracted » and that others were still trapped, not ruling out the possibility of finding other bodies in the rubble.
The fire, which broke out around 6 a.m. (4 a.m. universal time) in this nightclub located in the Atalayas district of Murcia, was “ inside extreme gravity “, he explained. Firefighters dispatched to the scene at 7 a.m. managed to extinguish the fire at 8 a.m., but “ there are still corpses to be taken out » rubble. A complicated task, given the “ proven risk of collapse », Specified the mayor. Four people were also injured – two women aged 22 and 25 and two men aged 41 and 45 – after inhaling smoke.
The investigation has not yet started
“ The area is still being recognized », explained the councilor. “ Priority is given to the location of the bodies » in the building, a spokesperson for the national police told AFP. “ The scientific police and firefighters continue to locate the possible missing people because there was a birthday last night and not all the participants were found “, she continued, before adding: “ The investigation has not yet started since the results have not been established. Therefore, there is no preferred avenue at this time. »
“ According to initial reports, the fire broke out on the first floor of the nightclub, which has a ground floor and a first floor, and this is where the fire appears to have started », Explained on Onda Regional radio in Murcia, Diego Seral, the local spokesperson for the national police.
Twelve emergency vehicles, 40 firefighters, as well as around twenty police officers were needed to put out the flames, according to the authorities. According to the photos released by the emergency services, it is the discotheque Theater, whose storefront – which was yellow and red – was devoured by flames. The photos show water hoses from fire trucks continuing to spray the blackened facade in a street invaded by emergency vehicles, with thick smoke escaping from the roof of the nightclub.
Three days of mourning
The current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, expressed his full “affection ” and his ” solidarity with the victims and relatives of the tragic fire that occurred at dawn in a nightclub in Murcia » on the social network X (formerly Twitter). The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, declared three days of mourning in memory of the victims, and the municipality set up a reception cell for the victims’ relatives at the Atalayas sports palace.
“I am truly sorry and I want to accompany the families of the victims of the fire this morning in Murcia in their pain. All my appreciation and gratitude to the emergency services », Also commented the leader of the right, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, on the same social network.
(with AFP)