A devastating fire at a residential building in northeastern Spain has left five young people dead and five others wounded. The blaze started in a storage area of the five-story structure, though investigators have not yet determined what sparked the flames.
A tragic blaze at a residential building in northeastern Spain has claimed five lives and left five additional people with minor wounds, according to regional emergency officials who reported the incident Monday evening.
The deadly flames erupted in a storage area within a five-story residential complex located in Manlleu, a community of approximately 21,000 residents situated north of Barcelona, Catalonian regional officials confirmed in an official statement.
Authorities indicated that the five victims became trapped in the building’s upper-level storage area and were unable to flee, though the circumstances preventing their escape remain unclear. Officials have not yet determined what ignited the destructive fire. The process of identifying the deceased will take place Tuesday, as several bodies sustained severe burn damage.
Law enforcement officials from Catalonia revealed that all five fatalities were young individuals who were not residents of the affected building.
Salvador Illa, Catalonia’s regional leader, shared his sympathies for the victims and their loved ones through social media, stating he was “deeply saddened by the death of five people.”
Medical officials reported Tuesday that four of the wounded individuals received treatment at area hospitals before being discharged, while the fifth injured person did not require hospital care.
Catalonian law enforcement has launched a formal inquiry to determine what caused the fatal fire. Investigators have not disclosed whether they are examining the incident as a potential criminal matter.