Tragedy struck in Vigo, a northwestern city in Spain, on Wednesday, as a devastating fire broke out in an apartment building, claiming the lives of four people and injuring nine more. The victims included three children and an adult, marking a deeply distressing incident for the local community.
Spain’s state news agency, Efe, reported that among the deceased were a woman and three of her children, although the local authorities had not yet officially confirmed this information at the time of the report. However, the Efe also noted that the father and another child were among those who suffered injuries due to the fire.
Vigo’s Mayor, Abel Caballero, tragically confirmed the loss of three children and one adult in this heart-wrenching blaze.
Pedro Blanco, the representative of the national government in the surrounding region of Galicia, revealed that the building had been occupied by squatters, according to reports from the owners. Investigations were immediately launched into the origins of the fire, which ignited at approximately 4 a.m. Toxic fumes were identified as the cause of death for the four victims.
The apartment building was home to an estimated 30 people, underscoring the scale of the tragedy and the urgency of the situation when the fire erupted.
Medical teams worked tirelessly to evacuate the injured, including a firefighter, to nearby hospitals. Regrettably, one child was among the three individuals classified as being in serious condition.
In response to this devastating event, the town declared three days of mourning for the victims, expressing solidarity with the affected families and the broader community in their collective grief. The incident underscores the importance of fire safety and the challenges of addressing housing issues in some urban areas.