Events At least 13 dead in the fire at a nightclub in Murcia

At least 13 people have died after the fire at the Fonda Milagros nightclub in Murcia early Sunday morning, in a leisure area known as Atalayas. Another 24 people have also had to be treated for smoke inhalation and have already been discharged.

Only three of the 13 fatalities had been identified until seven in the afternoon this Sunday, according to the city’s mayor, José Ballesta. To know the identity of the rest, it will be necessary to resort to DNA tests due to the state of the bodies. Throughout the day, relatives of possible victims have been asked to provide DNA samples, as well as photographs and data on objects that they may have been carrying with them at the time of the tragedy.

According to the data provided by the mayor, the authorities count 18 missing people. Late this Sunday, Rebeca Pérez, vice mayor of Murcia, raised the figure to that total, which would include the 13 deaths plus “5 people who have not yet been located,” according to the municipal official.

“Whoever falls, all of this will be clarified to the last consequences,” José Becerra guaranteed after ensuring that this Sunday priority has been given to rescue, identification and assistance to family members.

Firefighters have been working especially at the focus on the first floor of the Fonda Milagros but their spokesperson has avoided confirming that it is the origin of the fire. The first version indicated that from there it would have later extended to the adjacent premises, Teatre, which occupies another part of the same nave.

In an area of ??the Fonda Milagros, most of the bodies have been recovered so far. The fire broke out around 6:00 in the morning and was of such magnitude that the entire premises was reduced to ashes and the roof collapsed, making it necessary to shore up the remains of the building to prevent new landslides. and ensure the work of security teams.

As La Opinión de Murcia progressed in the morning, it was investigated whether the fire could have started due to a short circuit in one of the lights. For his part, the Police spokesperson has specified that the tasks of stabilizing the buildings and clearing debris will last at least 48 hours, so that the investigation into the causes will be delayed.

The four people treated for smoke inhalation are two women, ages 22 and 25, and two men, ages 41 and 45. Two were taken in ambulances to the local Reina Sofía hospital and the other two went to a health center on their own. They have already been discharged.

The Fonda Milagros nightclub is a place frequented by the Latino community and it is believed that the majority of the fatalities are Latinos and residents of the municipality of Caravaca. The authorities have moved the point of care to the relatives from the Sports Palace, where teams of psychologists have been deployed, to the Reina Sofía Hospital, next to the Forensic Anatomical Institute, to be able to take samples and compare them with the recovered bodies.

The City Council has mobilized a detachment made up of 12 firefighting vehicles and 40 personnel from the fire stations of the Infante Don Juan Manuel and Espinardo neighborhoods and 18 agents from the Local Police.

The Superior Court of Justice of Murcia (TSJMU) has called a second judge to take care of the ordinary activity of the court on duty, while the head of court number 7 remains, together with the judicial commission, at the scene of the accident, together with the forensic teams of the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Region of Murcia.

The identification work of the bodies is being carried out by the Scientific Police Brigade of the Murcia Headquarters.

Both the Region of Murcia and the city council have decreed three days of official mourning.

Tonight the kings expressed their “pain and dismay” at the tragedy. The House of His Majesty the King has published tonight on its official X account a message in which it says: “Pain and dismay as the tragic day in Murcia has progressed. Our solidarity with the families of the victims and with the whole city”. “We wish a speedy recovery to the injured and thank all emergency professionals for their exemplary work,” adds the message from the Royal Family.

For his part, the acting president of the Government and general secretary of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, wanted to convey his support to the families of the victims: “My love and solidarity with the victims and families of the tragic fire that occurred this morning in a nightclub of Murcia”, has stood out on the X network.

He has also conveyed to the president of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, “all our support and collaboration”, while expressing his gratitude “to the emergency services deployed in the area for their work”.

The Murcian vice president, José Ángel Antelo, also Minister of the Interior, Security and Territorial Planning, has referred to the fire as a “catastrophe” and has announced that his Government will do everything in its power to care for the victims and clarify the causes of the event.

For his part, the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, wanted to show all his support to the relatives of the victims in the Murcia nightclub fire. “I am very sorry and I want to accompany the relatives of the victims of the fire that occurred this morning in Murcia in his pain,” said his profile in X.