In Valencia, eastern Spain, a massive fire tore through a 14-story apartment building, leaving at least four dead and at least 14 missing. Authorities warned on Friday that the death toll could grow.
The building’s extremely combustible cladding, according to experts, may have contributed to the fire’s quick spread after it started on the fourth level on Thursday at around 5:30 p.m. (1630 GMT).
In the western Campanar sector of the port city, a high-rise structure with 138 apartments caught fire, resulting in dramatic photos of clouds of black smoke.
“Four people have died,” Jorge Suarez Torres, deputy director of emergency services for the Valencia region, told reporters overnight.“As of now, we have 14 people who remain untraced,” regional administrator Pilar Bernabe added on Friday, stressing that the number could change.
Based on information from neighbors and the police, Valencia Mayor Maria Jose Catala had stated that nine to fifteen individuals were missing, but a source from city hall had stated on Thursday that 19 people were missing.
A seven-year-old youngster and seven firefighters were among the fifteen individuals receiving treatment for injuries of various severity.
Regional Governor Carlos Mazon stated that although six of the fifteen were still in the hospital on Friday, their lives were not in jeopardy.
Officials said 22 teams of firefighters had been called in to battle the blaze.Suarez Torres said they had not yet managed to get into the building.“We’re trying to cool the facade. That’s our goal over the next few hours,” he said.
“We can’t say when we’ll be able to get inside.”
