At least four people died after a fire broke out at a high-rise residential block in Spain’s Valencia city on Thursday (February 23, 2024).
Quoting Italian newspaper 20minutos — who cited Valencian Community Deputy Director for Emergencies, Jorge Juarez, as stating that at least 13 people, including six firefighters, have been injured in the blaze — Sputnik reported that the fire had broken out at the fourth level of a 14-story building in Valencia, .
According to reports, the fire is still ongoing and firefighters are still trying to bring the blaze under control.
The building reportedly housed 138 apartments and 450 people.
Access to the building is still impossible, and rescuers do not rule out a possible collapse of the building, reported Sputnik.
Locals said firefighters rescued several residents using cranes.
One woman told TVE as quoted by BBC she had seen firefighters attempting to rescue a teenage boy trapped inside the building’s first floor.
One man told a local TV channel that the fire spread quickly after it broke out, presumably on the fourth floor of the building.
“The fire spread in a matter of 10 minutes,” he told TV channel La Sexta as quoted by BBC, adding that material on the facade of the building may have caused the fire to spread.
PM reacts to fire tragedy
PM Pedro Sanchez posted on X: “Dismayed by the terrible fire in a building in Valencia.”
“I just spoke with the president @carlos_mazon_ and the mayor @mjosecatala to learn first-hand about the situation and offer all the help that is necessary,” he said.
“I want to convey my solidarity to all the people affected and recognition to all the emergency personnel already deployed at the scene,” the PM said.