A powerful blast tore through a bar in Madrid’s Vallecas district on Saturday afternoon, leaving at least 21 people injured. Emergency services said three victims are in critical condition while two others remain in serious shape.
The explosion was so intense that part of the building collapsed. Bricks, glass, and concrete fragments littered the street, while doors were ripped from their frames. Videos shared online show firefighters pulling people from the rubble as thick dust filled the air.
Firefighters and Medics on the Scene
Rescue teams arrived within minutes. Eighteen fire units worked around the clock to clear debris, while medics rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. Sniffer dogs and drones were deployed to make sure no one remained trapped under the wreckage.
Authorities Seal Off the Area
Madrid authorities quickly sealed the blast zone and evacuated nearby buildings as a safety measure. Police appealed for calm, asking residents to rely only on official updates while the investigation unfolds.
Cause Still Under Investigation
Officials have not yet confirmed the source of the blast. Investigators are looking into possible structural or gas-related causes, but for now the focus is on treating the injured and securing the site.
Echoes of Past Tragedies in Madrid
The explosion has revived memories of the deadly 2021 blast in central Madrid, when a seven-story building was blown apart, killing four people. That disaster was traced back to a faulty boiler repair.
A Pattern of Gas-Linked Disasters in Spain
Spain has a history of gas-related accidents, particularly in bars and restaurants. Just this past June, a gas cylinder exploded in a bar in Murcia, southern Spain, killing three and injuring 15, including a British woman who died from her injuries.
What This Really Means for Public Safety
The Vallecas blast underscores a recurring problem: aging infrastructure and recurring gas safety lapses. While the exact cause isn’t clear yet, the incident highlights how quickly a normal afternoon can turn into chaos when safety systems fail.
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