Rescue services search for 15 missing people after Spanish tower block blaze

Emergency services are currently searching for up to 15 individuals who have been reported missing following a devastating fire that tore through a block of flats in Valencia, located in eastern Spain.

Tragically, four casualties have been confirmed, with over a dozen individuals sustaining injuries in the blaze that erupted on Thursday afternoon, originating on the fourth floor of the building. Among the injured, half are courageous firefighters who responded to the emergency.

Pilar Bernabé, the Spanish government’s representative in Valencia, has highlighted the challenge of locating some of the missing individuals, noting that they include foreign residents. Among those unaccounted for are a two-year-old child and a two-month-old infant.

Experts have pointed out that the building was clad with highly flammable materials, exacerbating the rapid spread of the fire, especially given the windy conditions at the time of the incident. The blaze engulfed the entire structure within minutes of its onset around 5:30 pm on Thursday, ultimately resulting in complete destruction within an hour. As of Friday morning, the building stands as a charred shell, with firefighters persisting in their efforts to cool down the remnants.

In response to the catastrophe, the local authority has extended assistance to survivors, many of whom have lost everything, by offering accommodation in hotels, including Ukrainian refugees among them.

Expressing solidarity, Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, conveyed condolences to the affected families during his visit to Valencia on Friday, stating, “In the name of the Spanish government and, I believe, on behalf of Spanish society, I’d like to offer our solidarity, affection, and sympathy to the families of the victims of this terrible fire.”

Reflecting on the somber events, María José Catalá, the mayor, remarked, “This is a sad day for Valencia.”

Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the fire's rapid progression. Luis Ibanez, a nearby resident, described witnessing the building engulfed in flames "within a matter of minutes," likening it to being "made of cork," while Esther Puchades, deputy head of Valencia’s Industrial Engineers Association (COGITI), attributed the swift spread to the highly combustible cladding adorning the building, installed during its construction in 2005.

The use of polyurethane cladding in the construction process has raised concerns reminiscent of the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy in west London, where 72 lives were lost due to a similarly rapid blaze fueled by combustible cladding. Notably, a public inquiry into the Grenfell disaster has yet to conclude.

Luis Sendra, president of the Valencia college of architects, underscored the lack of restrictions on cladding materials and terrace furniture at the time of the apartment block's construction, emphasizing how the design facilitated a chimney effect, thus aiding the fire's spread.

In light of these incidents, European regulations governing cladding materials have been revised and strengthened, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The Spanish football federation has called for a minute’s silence before the kick-off of the Spain vs. the Netherlands women’s football international match this evening, honoring the victims of the Valencia fire.