Deadly Fire Engulfs 14-Story Apartment Block, 4 dead, 19 missing
A 14-story apartment tower in Valencia, Spain, burned down, killing at least four people. The fire, which started at 5:30 pm Thursday, injured a teenager and six firefighters. Include a 7-year-old and others. Twelve were brought to the hospital, ten were expected to live, and two were critical.
Pictures showed tremendous flames spewing black smoke. Officials said nineteen people are missing. For firefighters, fighting the fire all night in western Campanar was a unique experience.
Deputy head of emergency services Valencia region Jorge Torres stressed that four people had died and that the hunt for missing people continued. The heat prevented firefighters from entering the building.
The building’s fireproof covering was a challenge for 22 firefighting personnel. Flammable Polyurethane cladding on the building’s exterior contributed to the fire.
Polyurethane foam is harmful, according to Valencia Industrial Engineers Association deputy director Esteve Puchade. The building’s skeletonization accelerates cooling needs, according to testimony.
According to a resident, the flames rushed up the building like a “block made of cork.” The residents were shocked when the wind-fueled fire brought the building down.
Drones and search and rescue effort found the victims under the building continuously.
Valencia’s community is in shock and concerned for the missing, focusing on providing quick aid to the search and rescue in the aftermath of this tragedy.
