Watch Video | Valencia Deadly Blaze: At Least Four Lives Lost In Apartment Block Fire

At least four people have been reported dead and up to 15 are said to be missing following a massive fire that was witnessed ripping through two joined apartment blocks in the Spanish city of Valencia, as per statements from emergency services.

The blaze was observed engulfing a 14-storey block situated in the Campanar neighbourhood and subsequently spreading to an adjoining building.

Valencia Deadly Blaze

Firefighters were observed engaging in the rescue of individuals from balconies. It has been noted by experts that the highly flammable cladding present on the building facilitated the rapid spread of the fire. It was reported by newspaper El Pais, citing the building's manager, that the building, which houses 138 flats and accommodated 450 residents, was affected.

Fifteen people, including six firefighters and a young child, have been reported injured, although their lives are not deemed to be in danger. Valencia Mayor María José Catalá mentioned that authorities were still in the process of trying to locate between nine and 15 people, while the government's regional representative stated that 14 people remain unaccounted for, reported BBC.

The blaze was tackled by more than 20 fire crews, exacerbated by high winds, resulting in the block being transformed into a giant fire-blackened shell by early Friday. Individuals were advised to steer clear of the area. It was reported locally that firefighters had successfully rescued several residents using cranes, including a couple residing on the seventh floor.

One woman recounted to TVE that she had witnessed firefighters attempting to rescue a teenage boy who was trapped on the building's first floor. Luis Ibanez, a nearby resident, conveyed to TVE that he had witnessed the flames engulfing the block "within a matter of minutes", describing it as "as if it was made of cork".

One occupant residing on the second floor of the building mentioned to TV channel La Sexta that the flames had swiftly grown after the fire commenced, reportedly on the fourth floor. Questions regarding the materials utilized in the construction of the building, which was erected in 2008-09, have been raised in Spain.

Esther Puchades, vice president of the College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Valencia, stated to the Spanish news agency Efe that she had previously inspected the building, noting the presence of polyurethane material on its exterior, which is no longer widely used due to concerns regarding flammability. Additionally, it was covered with aluminium.

"The reason the [building] burned so fast is because of this type of cladding," she remarked to Spanish media. The cladding has been described by experts as effective for heat insulation but prone to high flammability due to the ventilation gap between it and the covering.

Luis Sendra, representing Valencia's architects' association, highlighted the potential for a "chimney effect", allowing fires to propagate more rapidly. The incident evokes memories of the 2017 tragedy at London's Grenfell Tower, where similar cladding was held responsible for facilitating the spread of flames, resulting in 72 fatalities, reported BBC.

Firefighters were summoned at approximately 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT). An area hospital has been established in the vicinity, according to RTVE. Authorities stated that displaced individuals would be accommodated in hotels. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed dismay over the devastating fire in a building in Valencia, extending solidarity to all affected individuals and commending the emergency personnel deployed at the scene. Valencia authorities have declared an official day of mourning for the victims of the fire.