Four dead and 20 missing after huge fire engulfs block of flats in Spain
It's feared that some residents could still be trapped inside the building after the fire spread extremely quickly.
At least four people have been killed and dozens are still missing after a huge fire engulfed a block of flats in Spain.
Residents fled onto their balconies to escape the blaze at the 14-story apartment block in Valencia, believed to house more than 350 residents.
More than 20 fire crews arrived to tackle the flames and used cranes to rescue people trapped on their balconies, including a teenage boy and at least two others.
Meanwhile, dramtic footage showsa man jumping several floors onto an inflatable mat to escape the raging flames.
One resident, who lives on the second floor, told local news outlet La Sexta that the fire ‘spread in a matter of 10 minutes’ – adding that material on the facade of the building might have helped the fire to spread.
Valencia’s assistant emergency services director, Jorge Suarez, told reporters that four people were confirmed dead and that some six hours after the blaze started, firefighters were trying to cool down the outside of the building before attempting to go inside.
Spain’s TVE public television said there were more than 130 flats in the building which was rapidly ‘reduced to a skeleton’.
As the sun rose on Friday morning, firefighters told local media they were preparing to enter the building to begin the grim task of going door-to-door in the search for bodies.
None of the still-missing people are expected to still be alive, they added.
Soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit were also deployed, and medics set up a large tent to tend to the injured on the scene.
At least 13 people have been injured so far, including six firefighters, and Spain’s Military Emergency Unit were also deployed.
They’re being treated for fractures, burns, and smoke inhalation.
Huge clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky as the fire raged on.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: ‘Dismayed by the terrible fire in a building in Valencia…I want to convey my solidarity to all the people affected and recognition to all the emergency personnel already deployed at the scene.’
He also said he had offered the city ‘all the help that is necessary’.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
