Madrid bar gas explosion incident: At least 25 people injured, 3 in critical condition. The explosion affected residential buildings, and rescue work is in progress.
Madrid, the capital of Spain, was hit by a tragic gas explosion incident on the afternoon of September 13 local time. A bar in the Puente de Vallecas district experienced a natural gas explosion, resulting in at least 25 people being injured, with 3 of them in serious condition. This incident has attracted widespread attention on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, becoming a hot topic.
Chaotic Scene at the Explosion Site
Witnesses described a chaotic scene at the time of the explosion. A loud blast shook the area, and glass was scattered across the street. The explosion caused a wall of the bar to collapse and also affected the residential building above. The entire building was evacuated, and 11 households in the building were temporarily relocated. The Madrid Fire Brigade reported that approximately 50 - 60 square metres of the building’s concrete and steel structure were severely compromised, making the building too unstable for anyone to re - enter.
Difficult Rescue Operations
Due to concerns about the instability of the building structure, firefighters were unable to carry mechanical equipment into the explosion site and could only manually clear the scene to confirm whether there were any missing persons. Madrid’s Deputy Mayor Inmaculada Sans, who was in charge of the rescue at the scene, said that technical assessments were ongoing to determine the extent of the damage and when it might be safe to resume work in the area. Thirteen Samur - Protección Civil units, 18 Madrid firefighters, and several Summa 112 emergency medical teams responded to the scene, doing their best to carry out rescue work.
Initial Investigation into the Explosion Cause
Early investigations suggest that the explosion was likely caused by a gas leak in an illegally occupied shop unit next to the bar. Police confirmed that the space, which had been taken over by several young individuals for at least a year, contained multiple butane gas canisters. These may have contributed to the blast. However, the exact cause of the gas leak is still under investigation, and the squat remains a focal point of the investigation.
Community in Shock, Officials Offering Support
This tragic incident has left the Vallecas community in shock. The local government and relevant officials are working to support the affected residents, providing them with necessary assistance and psychological counseling. This incident also serves as a reminder to the entire society to pay more attention to gas safety issues to avoid similar tragedies from happening again.