A major fire has engulfed a high-rise residential building in Valencia, Spain. The fire, which is still ongoing, broke out in a 14-storey block in the Campanar neighbourhood and spread to an adjacent building. Firefighters have been seen rescuing residents from balconies, with local media suggesting others may still be trapped inside. At least 13 people, including six firefighters, have been injured.
Over 20 fire crews are battling the blaze and locals have been advised to avoid the area. The building, which houses 138 flats and approximately 450 residents, has been severely affected, according to El Pais. Firefighters have reportedly used cranes to rescue several residents, including a couple from the seventh floor.
A resident of the second floor told La Sexta TV channel that the fire spread rapidly, possibly due to material on the building’s facade. Engineer David Higuera suggested to El Pais that the building’s cladding could be the cause of the fire’s rapid spread. He explained that the aluminium plates with foam insulation on the building’s exterior are highly combustible despite being good insulators against heat and cold.
A woman reported to TVE that she had seen firefighters trying to rescue a teenager trapped on the first floor. Firefighters were alerted to the fire around 17:30 local time and a field hospital has been established in the area. Displaced residents will be accommodated in hotels, according to authorities.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his dismay over the fire on X (previously Twitter), offering his solidarity to those affected and acknowledging the efforts of emergency personnel at the scene.
