Spain nightclub fire kills 13 people with five more missing from birthday party
At least 13 people have died in a nightclub fire where they were celebrating a birthday party, with five more still missing.
Police have confirmed that there are 18 people missing with 13 known to have died. The blaze spread across multiple venues, including Teatre, in the city of Murcia in the south-east of Spain, after breaking out in the early hours of Sunday morning. Unconfirmed reports suggest it started in restaurant and nightspot Fonda Milagros.
All the dead where from Nicaragua and were celebrating the 30th birthday party of a man who has died, along with his partner, brother and mother, said a cousin, reported local media.
Four people are reported to have suffered smoke inhalation, with two taken to hospital, and it is believed there could be more victims. The fire has been extinguished. The missing people are said to belong to the same group that was celebrating a birthday in the Fonda where the first floor gave way. Another venue affected is reportedly Golden.
Multiple people have died during a nightclub fire in Spain, with more still missingA cousin of the man celebrating his birthday told the newspaper El Espanol: "On the second floor were still my uncle, two cousins, the wife of my cousin, a friend and another friend from Nicaragua. We are devastated." He continued: "We were celebrating a birthday in a restaurant called Fonda … then the people decided to go to the Fonda Milagros disco to continue the party."
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He said how he was not feeling well and so went home but later had a call from his wife. He said: "At 5am my wife called in shock saying that there had been a fire, she just told me that there was a fire and part of my family had been stuck inside."
Firefighters are working to access the area where the party was taking place when the fire started - though it has suffered structural damage in the flames and it is proving difficult. Those suffering smoke inhalation are reported to be two women and two men, between 22 and 45.
"We are devastated," Murcia Mayor Jose Ballesta said on Spanish TV channel 24h. He has decreed three days of mourning in Murcia. Relatives are arriving at the scene to try and locate loved ones.
About 40 firefighters in 12 vehicles rushed to the scene. A heavy motherboard truck (BNP) was also later called in, as well as a helicopter, though the latter was not needed. Ambulances and other medical vehicles are also at the scene as are members of the Homicide Group of Murcia Police HQ.
The scene this morning with nightclub Teatre scorched blackThe city council has opened the Murcia Sports Palace to allow for families of the victims to take shelter. A team of psychologists, social workers and civil protection officers are providing support.
Video shows firefighters in masks battling inside one of the venues, which is completely engulfed in an inferno of flames. Fire crews can be seen moving through the club, with drinks still on the tables, as they fire hoses at the fire.
Murcia City Hall said today it was declaring three days of mourning. It said in a statement: “Murcia’s mayor Jose Ballesta has declared three days of official mourning for the people who have died in the fire at the nightclub Teatre.
“He also sends his condolences, in the name of the entire city council, to the relatives and friends of the victims.” In a message on his social media Mr Ballesta confirmed the death tally had so far reached seven. He said: “The number of people who have died inside the disco in the Atalayas area of Murcia has now reached seven. Emergency services are continuing to work in the area.”
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