Desperate residents climb down balconies as flames engulf multistorey building in Spanish port city

The 14-storey apartment has reportedly been “reduced to a skeleton”, while a nearby building has also been engulfed in flames.

A devastating fire tore through two residential buildings in the heart of Valencia, Spain, on

Thursday, leaving at least 13 people injured and prompting a dramatic rescue operation by firefighters. The inferno, which originated in a 14-story residential tower, quickly engulfed the structure, with flames bursting from windows as panicked residents sought refuge on balconies.

Firefighters sprang into action, deploying cranes to pluck stranded individuals from perilous heights. Alongside them, soldiers from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit mobilized, while medics erected a makeshift triage area to tend to the wounded amidst billowing clouds of black smoke visible for miles.

Firefighters used cranes to rescue residents

The neighbors were trapped on their balconies – a few meters from the flames – while they waited for firefighters to rescue them from the inferno.

The blaze, fanned by winds reaching up to 60 kph (40 mph), soon spread to an adjacent building, compounding the crisis. Initial reports indicated a toll of 13 casualties, including firefighters, afflicted by fractures, burns, and smoke inhalation. However, the full extent of the casualties and the number of occupants trapped within remained uncertain amid the chaos.

As firefighters battled the raging inferno, the city's skyline transformed into a scene of devastation, with images capturing residents witnessing their homes consumed by flames. Reports surfaced detailing the structural devastation, with one building reduced to a skeletal frame and nearby structures also succumbing to the conflagration.

Devastated neighbors console themselves at the site of the large fire in the Campanar area

Experts speculated on the fire's rapid spread, pointing to the potentially combustible cladding material enveloping the building. Engineers highlighted the presence of polyurethane insulation, renowned for its flammability, as a possible accelerant for the flames, underscoring the peril of such materials in high-rise structures.

Despite the valiant efforts of over 20 firefighting crews, the relentless onslaught of wind and intense heat posed formidable challenges to containment. Amidst the chaos, a field hospital emerged within the perimeter to accommodate potential victims requiring urgent medical attention.

Throughout the night, the harrowing spectacle unfolded, with residents observing helplessly as their dwellings succumbed to the merciless blaze. Accounts emerged of desperate attempts at self-preservation by trapped residents and daring rescues by firefighters amid the relentless onslaught.

The fire is believed to have started around 5.30pm on one flat before quickly spreading to the rest of the block

A cloud of black smoke completely covered the building Thursday night and sparked flames.

Political figures, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, expressed shock and solidarity, pledging support for the stricken city and its inhabitants. Urging cooperation with emergency services, Valencia's mayor implored residents to steer clear of the danger zone, underscoring the imperative of facilitating rescue efforts.

As the city grappled with the aftermath of the catastrophic blaze, questions loomed regarding the adequacy of building safety regulations and the need for comprehensive measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring. Meanwhile, Valencia, once vibrant and bustling, now stood as a somber testament to the destructive power of fire, its scars etched into the urban landscape as a grim reminder of the fragility of human habitation.