VALENCIA, Spain. As firefighters and scientific police began inspecting the interior of two residential towers devastated by fire in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Friday, the death toll rose to four, with 14 people still missing after the blaze at the complex Thursday.
Valencia Mayor María José Catalá highlighted the initial challenges faced by emergency workers due to the risk of the 14-story building collapsing and the intense heat from the fire, which hindered search efforts for possible survivors.
The fire, which erupted Thursday evening, rapidly engulfed the buildings, prompting questions about the swift spread of the blaze.
Experts suggested that the polyurethane cladding of the building might have exacerbated the fire’s intensity. Esther Puchades, the vice-president of the Valencia College of Industrial and Technical Engineers, explained that the material behaves like plastic when heated, making it highly flammable. She noted previous devastating fires involving similar materials in the United Kingdom and China.
Catalá stated that the cause of the fire remained undetermined, refraining from commenting on reports speculating about the potential role of construction materials in fueling the inferno. Puchades emphasized that polyurethane is now seldom used in buildings without additional safety precautions to mitigate its combustibility.
The complex, completed in 2009, was constructed by the now insolvent company Fbex, which boasted about using a new aluminum-based material for its façade in promotional material.
Fifteen individuals were treated for injuries, with five remaining hospitalized on Friday, including four firefighters, all reported to be in stable condition.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the site, pledging support for the affected individuals and expressing gratitude to the emergency personnel for their efforts in extinguishing the fire.
Authorities are yet to ascertain the exact number of occupants in the buildings at the time of the fire, but numerous residents are believed to have lost their homes and possessions. The complex comprised approximately 140 apartments.
The Valencia regional government declared three days of mourning and announced financial assistance to cover accommodation, clothing, and food for those affected. Residents were accommodated overnight in hotels or with relatives and neighbors.
Firefighters, aided by 90 soldiers from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit and 40 firefighting trucks, battled the blaze, which sent plumes of black smoke billowing kilometers away. Spain’s weather agency, Aemet, reported winds of up to 60 kph (40 mph) at the time of the incident.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
