#UPDATED at 14.30h on Saturday 24 February.
The confirmed death toll from the fire that left two residential buildings charred in the city of Valencia rose to 10 on Saturday after authorities announced they had located the remains of what they believed was the last missing person.
Forensic police found the 10th victim inside the scorched building, national government delegate in Valencia Pilar Bernabé told journalists. Police will proceed with DNA testing to confirm the identities of all the victims, she said.
While there were no other missing persons reported, Bernabé stressed that police and firefighters would continue the ‘complex’ work of combing through the building debris in search of any other possible victim.
Original full report below:
Spanish firefighters were battling high winds to put out a huge fire that gutted a multi-storey apartment block in the city of Valencia on Thursday evening.
At least 14 people have been injured, including six firefighters, regional officials said, without providing details on the extent of the injuries. The emergency services earlier said seven people were lightly injured, mostly from smoke inhalation.
Latest reports at 10pm from emergency services said that of the 14 people injured, nine were male, aged between 25 and 57 years, four women aged 27-81 years, and a child of 7 years (see Tweet below).
Soldiers from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) also were deployed and medics set up a large tent to tend to the injured on the scene.
The fire began around 5.30pm on the fourth floor and rapidly spread, witnesses and the emergency services said, with images showing flames and vast clouds of black smoke engulfing the building in the Campanar neighbourhood in western Valencia.
(21:35 h) Incendio edificio barrio Campanar (Valencia)
— Emergències 112CV (@GVA112) February 22, 2024
🗣️El subdirector de Emergencias de la @generalitat, @SDGEJorsuato, recuerda que está activado un teléfono de información a las personas afectadas por la emergencia, y que está integrado en el 112.
☎️690 167 830
⚠️Hay que… pic.twitter.com/5GGmRCXwue
Este es el momento en el que un bombero ha tenido que ser rescatado. Ha saltado a una colchoneta desde uno de los balcones del edificio arrasado por las llamas en el barrio de Campanar, en Valencia.https://t.co/efNd1Y0lXq pic.twitter.com/WwPdBd3y4r
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) February 22, 2024
📷 | Imágenes de las inmediaciones del edificio de 14 plantas que está ardiendo en Campanar (Valencia). La Policía Local de Valencia habilita un número de teléfono para familiares de los afectados por el incendio: 690167 830 https://t.co/Dr1I6gkVdI #Directo pic.twitter.com/xKby1UCG8d
— Europa Press (@europapress) February 22, 2024
Sign up for the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Please support Spain in English with a donation.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us.