Valencia fire latest: Many missing as deadly fire devastates Valencia apartment blocks - BBC News

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"Finding Victims: Spanish Prime Minister's Top Priority"

The leader of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, recently addressed the public from Valencia and expressed his gratitude towards the emergency services. He gave a special mention to the firefighters for their crucial efforts.

According to him, his administration is present in order to offer "any and all forms of assistance" to aid in the swift rescue operation and ascertain the nature of the event.

Sanchez has emphasized that the utmost importance lies in locating the casualties and ensuring the safety of all the individuals partaking in the recovery process.

The Prime Minister showed up for a short time and expressed that he was emotional about the amount of support and understanding he saw from the Campanar community and the city as a whole.

"Apocalyptic" Apartment Fire Witnessed

Siena Swirte, a teaching assistant from America, resides in close proximity to the fire and expressed to the BBC that the situation appeared "apocalyptic." She observed the fire beginning to spread from her residence's vicinity.

It proliferated rapidly. I've never witnessed anything akin to that, it had an end-of-the-world appearance.

The sound of breaking glass was evident, along with the explosive noises and visible pieces falling from the structure.

Swirte mentioned that individuals were visible on the balconies.

She reported that the emergency vehicles' alarms could be heard continuously throughout the entire evening.

Last night's fire resulted in the tragic death of four individuals. However, it's believed that around 15 people are still unaccounted for.

Firefighters Reach Up To Third Floor For Entry

According to news from Spanish media, firefighters have spent all morning attempting to lower the temperatures of the buildings. They've finally been allowed to go inside, but can only access the third floor due to the extreme heat.

Fresh information is being revealed regarding the intense intensity of the flames, which rapidly raged through the two structures within a mere 30 minutes.

According to El Pais, a firefighter was forced to leap onto a mat from the seventh level.

Several people managed to get to the twelfth level of the structures - as there were fourteen floors in total - and were successful in saving some of the occupants.

According to the information provided by the Spanish media source, six of the firefighters underwent psychological care after the incident.

According to reports from local media, there were nine individuals transported to the hospital, including emergency personnel. Out of those individuals, seven firefighters were given medical attention, five of whom have been hospitalized. There is no indication that any of their conditions are considered critical.

PM Reaches Site Of Fire

According to reports from local media, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has arrived at the location and is receiving information on the urgent operation.

Challenging Rescue Mission For Emergency Teams

The Spanish defence minister, Margarita Robles, has expressed her concern over the challenging circumstances that emergency services are facing in regards to the blaze. She stated that the situation is very intricate and demanding.

Soldiers from the emergency unit of the military have been contributing to the rescue operations and making use of unmanned aerial vehicles to explore the edifice. The minister has confirmed that they will stay put at the location for an indefinite period until the mission is accomplished.

"Cladding's Role In Spreading Fires"

We are attempting to uncover the specifics of the building's technicalities, however, it appears that this fire shares resemblances with the Grenfell tragedy that occurred in 2017.

Modern buildings use cladding to protect themselves from weather-related damages. The panels have an empty space behind them which helps with insulation and avoids dampness.

The utilization of Aluminium Composite Panels, also known as ACM, for constructing building facades has been quite extensive. However, they proved to be the cause of the fire that spread at Grenfell. This is due to the presence of a plastic layer in them which easily catches fire and melts, causing the flames to spread and drip.

Nonetheless, some types of ACM do not possess a high level of flammability.

European standards classify how well a material can withstand fire, with grades ranging from A1 and A2 (the best) to E (the worst).

Producers manufacture certain variations that fall under the A2 classification, which renders them significantly more resistant to fire propagation.

Similar to Grenfell, there are also versions that have been given a D rating, or even an E rating during some tests, which have been prohibited for use in tall buildings in the United Kingdom.

Another important element to consider is if the panels are constructed as "cassettes". Studies have found that they have a decreased ability to withstand fires.

'City Stunned By Recent Events'

The images in this blog are protected by copyright laws and belong to Manuel Queimadelos Alonso from Getty Images.

A reporter from Spain has shared their account of how the flames quickly engulfed the two connected buildings.

Paco Polit, who spoke with the BBC World Service's Newsday show, stated that this is now the most severe fire that Valencia has ever experienced.

"It grew bigger, and all of a sudden, covered the entire structure."

During an interview, Polit mentioned that numerous inquiries are currently being made regarding the construction of the buildings. In addition, the entire city is currently stunned by this event.

Firefighters Can't Enter Due To Extreme Heat

The apartment blocks are too hot for firefighters to go inside, even though the majority of the fire has been extinguished.

Right now, they are occupied with cooling down the burned remnants of the structure, however, there are reports of flames reigniting at the back, so it might consume a while.

Last night, firefighters worked to save some of the people who were trapped in the building. However, as per Spanish media reports, they were not able to get to the top two floors of the 14-floor apartment complex. Unfortunately, some of the firefighters also got hurt while carrying out the rescue operation.

Throughout the night and into the morning, drones have been utilized to fly over and surrounding the edifice in an effort to aid in the search.

Not only are firefighters attempting to enter the damaged buildings, but Spain's forensic police are also anticipating their entrance to determine the cause of Valencia's most devastating fire to date and how it rapidly spread with fatal results.

The military's response team is also involved in the mission.

Kids Aged 3 To 15 Days Missing, Says Local Media

Local news reports have stated that a group of individuals who are missing includes a family consisting of four members. This family is comprised of a three-year-old male child and a baby girl who is only 15 days old.

According to Las Provincias, the family of four who resided in the burnt-down structure has not been located yet.

Blaze Engulfs Apartment, Causing Smoke And Flames

Spain PM Vows Aid For Fire Victims

The leader of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, is en route to the location in the neighborhood of Campanar in Valencia.

Previously, he conveyed his backing and sympathies towards those impacted by the fatal inferno.

Sanchez expressed his astonishment at the devastating fire and mentioned that he was communicating with Valencia's mayor and regional officials, willing to extend any possible assistance.

15 People Missing In Spain, Officials Report

The fire has caused the death of four individuals, although the exact quantity of people who are unaccounted for is currently unknown.

The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, stated that officials are currently making efforts to find a group of individuals that may consist of nine to fifteen people.

The representative of the Spanish government in the area, Pilar Bernabé García, estimated that approximately 14 individuals are missing.

Valencia Fire Fueled By Flammable Cladding, Experts Warn

Local media have reported that the fire spread quickly due to the highly combustible cladding on the building, as stated by industry professionals.

According to the Spanish news agency Efe, Esther Puchades, the VP of the Valencia College of Industrial Technical Engineers has reported that she conducted a prior examination of the structure.

According to Puchades, the outside part of the building is adorned with a type of polyurethane substance that is rarely used nowadays because of its hazardous nature in case of fire. Additionally, there is an outer layer of aluminum.

She mentions that the quick combustion of the [structure] occurred due to the presence of this particular material used for coating.

Experts have determined that the cladding serves its intended purpose of providing excellent insulation against heat. However, its susceptibility to catching fire is due to its narrow ventilation or gap that separates it from the outer covering.

According to Luis Sendra, who is a member of the architects' association in Valencia, this can create a "funnel effect", which can result in fires spreading at a faster rate.

The problem of cladding that can easily catch fire became a major concern in the United Kingdom following the tragic event at Grenfell Tower in 2017. This tower block in west London was engulfed in flames, resulting in the loss of 72 lives.

Two Saved From Raging Tower Block Fire

Over 20 squads dedicated to extinguishing fires were sent to limit the spread of the inferno.

The camera crew present at the site recorded a video that showed fire rescue teams using a cherry picker to save two individuals.

A number of individuals are receiving medical care for injuries caused by burns and inhaling smoke, which includes the emergency responders.

Greetings and a warm welcome to the live updates. We are here to provide you with the most recent information from Valencia, Spain concerning a devastating fire that occurred in two interconnected apartment complexes.

According to authorities, four individuals have lost their lives while approximately 14 people are unaccounted for.

Specialists suggest that the combustible coating on the structure was the cause for the quick transmission of the flames - leading to the complete coverage of the establishment located in the Campanar region of Valencia.