World Cup joy turns to tragedy in Salamanca after fountain collapse kills teenager

The accident occurred shortly after Spain secured its first World Cup title since 2010, as hundreds of fans gathered across the country to celebrate. In the town of Ciudad Rodrigo, in the province of Salamanca (Castilla y León), around 50 people had assembled at the Glorieta del Árbol Gordo, where many climbed onto a fountain to mark the victory.

According to emergency services, multiple calls were received at 12.33am local time reporting that the upper section of the fountain had collapsed onto people gathered around and inside the structure.

‘The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13,’ the municipality said in a Facebook post.

‘What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy,’ it said, adding that several others were injured.

Emergency responders, including Ciudad Rodrigo Local Police, the Salamanca Guardia Civil, firefighters from the Salamanca Provincial Council and regional health service teams, were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Three people were treated at the Ciudad Rodrigo health centre. The 13-year-old victim later died from his injuries, while another minor, who suffered a broken leg and was reported to be in a serious condition, was transferred to hospital in Salamanca. A third injured person was treated and later discharged.

Local media reported that the collapse was caused by the weight of numerous fans who had climbed onto the fountain during the celebrations.

In response to the tragedy, Ciudad Rodrigo’s town council declared three days of official mourning, and extended its condolences to the victim’s family while wishing those injured a swift recovery.

The incident cast a sombre shadow over celebrations that had been taking place across Spain after the national team’s historic World Cup victory, transforming what was meant to be a night of jubilation into one of grief.