In the early hours of October 1, a devastating fire broke out in the Fonda nightclub, located in the southeastern Spanish city of Murcia. The flames quickly spread to two adjacent clubs, the Teatre and Golden. According to Mayor José Ballesta of Murcia, the tragic incident resulted in 13 confirmed casualties.

Emergency services believe the fire originated on the first floor of the Fonda nightclub around 6 am. Upon investigation, several victims were found at this location. The responders faced significant challenges, notably the collapse of the nightclub’s roof, as mentioned by Spain’s National Police spokesperson, Diego Seral. Disturbing videos shared online depict the magnitude of the inferno, capturing large flames and thick plumes of smoke pouring out of the club’s windows.

A quick response was initiated, with approximately 40 firefighters and 12 fire trucks arriving at the scene. The dedicated emergency responders worked relentlessly to extinguish the flames and save any potential survivors. The night’s festivities included multiple birthday celebrations across the three affected clubs.

An anonymous survivor, lucky to escape unharmed, narrated their narrow getaway, recounting their departure just moments before the alarms blared and the power was cut off. Expressing deep concern for their missing family members and friends, they highlighted the urgency of finding them.

Following the incident, the Mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, declared a three-day mourning period. In a show of respect, the flags at Murcia’s City Hall were lowered to half-mast. The entire city mourns the loss of lives, and investigations into the incident are ongoing to determine the causes.