A nightclub fire that took place in Spain over the weekend has left at least 13 people dead and many more injured, BBC News reports.
The fire took place in Murcia, Spain, on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. It began early in the morning on the first floor of the Fonda Milagros nightclub, which is also known as La Fonda.
The fire, however, would go on to spread to two other nightclubs that are adjoined to La Fonda, namely, the Teatre and Golden nightclubs. All three clubs are located in the Atalayas area of Murcia.
The fire began at around 6:00 CEST, and it blazed for about two hours - until 8:00 CEST - before it was finally extinguished. It took over 40 firefighters roughly an hour to put the blaze out. They arrived at the scene roughly an hour after the fire first broke out.
It was not until the fire was put out that emergency personnel began to discover the extent of the devastation that it caused.
The Daily Caller reports:
Four bodies were reportedly discovered by firefighters two hours after the fire started; two more bodies were found 40 minutes later. Additional bodies were found as the building search progressed, the outlet reported.
Thus far, 13 individuals have been reported to have died in the fire. It is being reported that all of the casualties took place in the La Fonda nightclub. The identities of those who died have yet to be revealed.
In addition to those who lost their lives, at least 24 other people suffered injuries in the fire. Many had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The BBC reports, "The fire is believed to be the country's worst such blaze in more than 30 years. In 1990, 43 people were killed in a nightclub in Zaragoza."
At the time of this writing, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
ABC News reports, "Firefighters and police continued to search the damaged premises for clues as to how the fire started Sunday in the city of Murcia. They also worked to secure the interior of the building to avoid a possible collapse."
Murcia Mayor Jose Ballesta, according to the BBC, has declared that there will be a three-day mourning period for the victims of the fire.
"We are devastated," Ballesta said.
Spain's King Felipe VI has also issued a statement in response to the tragedy, saying, "Pain and dismay as the tragic day in Murcia has progressed. Our solidarity with the families of the victims and with the entire city."
