Five teenagers die in a storage room fire in Manlleu

Barcelona / ManlleuFive minors died Monday night and five other people suffered minor injuries in a fire in a building on Montseny Street in Manlleu (Osona). The fire started in a storage room on the roof of building 66A, a five-story building with about 40 apartments. All indications are that the young people used the building as a meeting place and, for reasons unknown, were unable to survive. The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) are investigating the cause of the fire.

Among the dead are a 14-year-old, three 16-year-olds, and a 17-year-old. They are still awaiting full identification, as some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. According to ARA, three of the victims were students at the Antoni Pous i Argila Institute in Manlleu, and two were students at the Ter Institute.

Following initial investigations, Catalan police ruled out on Tuesday that the cause of the tragic incident was an explosion or deflagration from gas cylinders. "It was a small, contained combustion, caused by something that caught fire in an unventilated area," explained the police force, which at this time does not know what object could have caused the fire. Regarding reports from some residents of hearing an explosion, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) attributed it to bricks that may have exploded due to the high temperatures. They also specified that the victims may have lost consciousness during the incident.

Although it initially appeared that the storage room—about eight square meters in size—where the fire broke out was being used as a dwelling, this suspicion was later downplayed according to the initial investigation by the Mossos d'Esquadra's Investigation Unit. In fact, residents of Manlleu told this newspaper that the victims were young people from dysfunctional families who used the storage room as a meeting place. One neighbor explained that, upon noticing the fire, his father knocked on the doors of the other residents of the building to get them out, and that his brother tried to help the young people because he heard them screaming, but "he couldn't do anything."

The Manlleu Local Police and the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police) closed Montseny Street at the corner of Passeig Sant Joan on Tuesday morning. Forensic investigators were dispatched to the scene to analyze the area where the fire originated. The municipal architect, Enric Gil, ruled out any structural damage to the building and confirmed that there is currently no danger. Gil had already visited the site on Monday night to conduct an initial structural assessment. The building contains approximately 25 storage units of about eight square meters each, of which between eight and ten were affected by the fire. "There isn't much flame visible, but rather a lot of smoke," explained Gil, who added that the municipal brigade had erected a barrier around the affected area to prevent people from entering "as it is a sensitive location." The immediate area is cordoned off for safety reasons.

Josep Cillero, a resident of the building who lives on the first floor, explained the situation on the rooftop. "It wasn't suitable for residential use, because the spaces are very small and full of furniture," he said, adding that he assumes the young people entered because it was open. The Government Delegate in Central Catalonia, Elia Tortolero, explained that they are awaiting the results of the investigation, as it is still unknown whether the teenagers were hanging out in the space or what they were doing. In statements to Catalunya Ràdio, she asked for "respect for the victims and their families" and explained that late Monday night they were able to contact some of the young people's relatives.

Firefighters received the call about the fire at 9:10 p.m. on Monday. Several residents called 112 to report a fire on the top floor of the apartment building and smoke in the stairwell. Thirteen fire crews were immediately dispatched, and upon arrival, they found the building completely evacuated. Two firefighters located and extinguished the blaze, which was declared out at 9:41 p.m. At the same time, the first fatality was discovered.

From that point on, firefighters expedited the search and rescue operation, finding four more people inside the storage unit. Despite the efforts of the firefighters and the Medical Emergency System (SEM) teams, who deployed eleven ambulances and two psychological support teams, they did not survive. Five other people suffered minor injuries: four have already been released after being treated in the ambulances, and the fifth declined transport to a hospital.

The building's residents were evacuated following the fire. Three families had to be rehoused at the Hotel Torres, while the rest were able to return around 3:30 a.m. This was the case for Fehre, who explained that they realized the fire was happening when "there was already a lot of smoke in the stairwell and inside the apartments as well." In fact, it was her daughter who alerted the fire department around 9:30 p.m. due to the amount of smoke. Like other residents, Fehre says she doesn't know who the five young people were who lost their lives in the fire, although others suggest they frequented the blog. However, she adds that the stairwell doors are always open. "There are always problems at this blog, but I'd never seen them go up there, or in the storage rooms, or anywhere else," she says.

The President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, was "shocked" by the death of these five young people in Manlleu and in a message to X conveyed his condolences "to their families and friends" and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Catalan Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, has also traveled to Manlleu to support Mayor Arnau Rovira following the tragic event. The department has expressed its condolences to the victims and thanked all the emergency teams for their swift response. The town council has declared three days of official mourning and has called for a minute of silence at 7:00 p.m. today in front of the town hall.