Four people were killed and 19 others missing after a fire broke out in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Thursday, authorities said, hours after the blaze broke out.
Officials said residents evacuated by the fire took refuge on balconies and some were rescued by firefighters.
Firefighters rushed to the scene on the outskirts of the city center as flames shot out of the windows of a 14-storey residential building where the fire was believed to have started.
Residents could be seen waiting on their balconies for rescue, and firefighters used a crane to pull two residents from one of the balconies.
Four people were confirmed dead, Jorge Suárez, assistant director of emergency services for the city of Valencia, told reporters. He said he is trying to do so.
Soldiers from the Spanish Army’s emergency forces were also deployed and medical workers set up large tents to treat the injured.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but news reports said the materials used in the building’s construction may have caused it to spread quickly.
The fire sent black smoke billowing into the sky and was visible from a distance. Spain’s meteorological agency Emet said winds were blowing at up to 40 mph at the time.
The fire broke out in the evening and spread to adjacent buildings, state news agency Efe reported. In addition to the four who died, at least 13 people were injured, most of them suffering from broken bones, burns, and smoke inhalation, according to emergency services. Six firefighters were among the 13 people.
It was not immediately clear how many people were inside the building or how many were rescued.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted a tweet on the X platform saying he was “shocked by the terrible fire that occurred in a building in Valencia,” adding that he had provided the city with “all necessary assistance.”
“I would like to express my solidarity with all those affected and express my gratitude to all emergency personnel already on the scene,” Sanchez said.
