Deadly fire engulfs apartment building in Spain’s Valencia

Firefighters struggled to contain the fire that engulfed the high-rise and were working “exclusively” on cooling the building’s exteriors, Jorge Suárez said.

Given the “characteristics of the building,” firefighters have not been able to enter to address the fire from inside, he added.

Footage from the scene shows the entire complex ablaze as flames tear through apartments and thick smoke billows overhead. In one video, fire crews can be seen rescuing people from a balcony as the fire rages behind them.

At least 14 people were injured in the fire with most taken to local medical centers, Suárez said.

Among those treated for injuries are at least six firefighters, Valencia’s Emergency Services said on social platform X.

The fire started around 5:30 p.m. local time [11.30 a.m. ET] in the Campanar neighborhood, and 16 firefighting units were sent to the scene, emergency services told CNN en Espanol.

Suárez said firefighters were analyzing the building to assess if there’s a risk of it collapsing.

The fire raged into the evening as nearby residents looked on in horror, with one telling Reuters the scenes were “tremendous, unbelievable – I can’t believe it.”

Valencia Mayor María José Alcalá told residents in a post on X to avoid the scene to help rescue services.

Hotel rooms were being organized for people whose homes were affected by the fire, emergency services said.

Three days of official mourning have been declared starting Friday, the mayor said.

“There are no words that describe the enormous pain that the city of Valencia is feeling right now,” she said. “All our support and deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

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