At least seven people died in a fire at a nightclub in Murcia, southeastern Spain, on Sunday morning. The death toll could rise as police continue to search for bodies in the rubble.
“The death toll now stands at seven who died in the fire. “The fire brigade continues to work on site and does not rule out the possibility of finding new victims,” said the emergency services on the social network “X”, formerly Twitter.
Firefighters were alerted around 6 a.m. (midnight Eastern Time) that a fire had broken out at a nightclub in the Atalayas district of Murcia and also reported four injuries, two of whom were taken to hospital.
They were able to enter the nightclub around 10 a.m. (2 a.m. Eastern Time) “after the fire was extinguished,” and then discovered “four bodies” and two more about forty minutes later.
An hour later, Murcia City Hall announced that the death toll was now seven and that investigation work was continuing.
“The search for the bodies in the building has priority,” a state police spokesman told AFP.
“Forensic police and firefighters are continuing to search for people who may be missing as there was a birthday party last night and not all attendees have been found,” she continued.
“The investigation has not started yet as the results are not yet available. Therefore, there is currently no preferred route,” she added.
Four people were also injured – two women aged 22 and 25 and two men aged 41 and 45 – after inhaling smoke.
“According to initial information, the fire started on the first floor of the nightclub, which consists of a ground floor and a first floor, and that is where the fire appears to have started,” explained Diego Seral on Radio Onda Regional de Murcia, the local spokesman for the national police.
According to the authorities, twelve emergency vehicles, 40 firefighters and around twenty police officers were needed to extinguish the flames.
According to the photos published by the emergency services, it is the nightclub “Teatre”, whose yellow and red facade was destroyed by the flames.
Photos show water hoses from fire engines continuing to spray the blackened facade of a street invaded by emergency vehicles, with thick smoke coming from the nightclub’s roof.
The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, declared a three-day mourning in memory of the victims and the municipality set up a reception cell at the Atalayas Sports Palace for the victims’ families.
“I am truly sorry and I want to accompany the families of the victims of the fire in Murcia this morning in their pain. All my appreciation and thanks go to the emergency services,” also commented the leader of the Right of Alberto Núñez Feijóo on the same social network.
In 1990, 43 people died in a nightclub fire in Zaragoza (Aragon, northeast).