Explosion in Madrid with dead: cause so far unclear - videos show the extent of the destruction

A multi-storey skyscraper was largely destroyed in an explosion in the center of Madrid.

The cause was initially unclear.

Several bodies were recovered.

• A huge

  explosion broke out

  in the center of the Spanish capital,

  Madrid

  , on Wednesday, January 20th

  .

• A multi-storey building was largely destroyed.

  Several people died and many were injured.

• The

  cause

  was initially unclear.

  The first media speak of a gas leak.

  This has not yet been officially confirmed.

• This

  news ticker

  is updated regularly.

Update from January 20, 5:40 p.m.: It is

now said that the

85-year-old fatality was

not a resident of the building, but a

passer

-by.

Nothing is known about the other deceased.

Among the injured is one of the

pastors

, two

police officers

were slightly injured and are also in

hospital

.

Update from January 20, 5:35 p.m.:

With reference to police sources,

El País

reports

that the explosion occurred when

employees of the gas operator checked

the pipes in the back of the building.

According to government delegate José Manuel Franco, one of the

employees is missing

.

As soon as possible,

police dogs

are supposed

to search for the person under the rubble.

Update January 20, 17:15:

Meanwhile, reports

El País

of

three deaths

, the top

four floors of the building had exploded.

One person is

missing

.

While six injured people can be treated on site,

three men were taken to clinics

.

A 26-year-old is in a moderately severe condition, a 53-year-old is in a mild condition, and a man has

broken his leg

.

Balance # explosión en la calle Toledo.

2 personas fallecidas, 6 heridos leves, uno moderado y uno grave trasladado a La Paz. @SAMUR_PC @BomberosMad @policiademadrid y @policia continúan trabajando en la zona.

pic.twitter.com/N4IbUD0PY9

- Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021

Explosion in Madrid: 85-year-olds and man dead - injured are treated in clinics

Update January 20, 17:09:

The

explosion

was, according to information of the

parish

, which uses in the building several rooms in one of the

priest homes

emerged.

Rescue workers

would treat the pastors, they were out of danger.

Update from January 20, 4:58 p.m.:

The Madrid emergency center has now confirmed that one of the two

dead

was an

85-year-old woman

.

In addition, a

man was killed

, further data are not known.

Several injured were brought to the

surrounding hospitals

.

Update from January 20, 4:55 p.m.:

According to the

El País

newspaper

, Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida does not

rule out the possibility

that the building

will be

brought

down in a

controlled

manner

after the rescue work

.

The Christian Democrat went on to say: “The firefighters will check whether the

adjacent wall between the collapsed building and the nursing home has been damaged

.

Debris also fell on the adjoining school yard. ”The elderly were meanwhile accommodated in a hotel across the street.

Explosion in Madrid: two bodies recovered - the facade of the building completely collapsed

Update from January 20, 4:45 p.m.:

The Spanish TV broadcaster RTVE and other media, citing spokesmen for the Ministry of the Interior and the fire department, report that the

bodies of an 85-year-old woman and a man

who

has not yet been identified

have been

recovered

.

According to previous knowledge,

eight people

were also

injured

, one of them seriously, it said.

The affected

building

at number 98 on Calle de Toledo - about 700 meters south of Plaza Mayor - is said to have had six floors, but the facade had

collapsed completely

.

Apparently it is a

residence and office building for priests

, it was said.

"It was a terrible explosion, debris flew through the air," said a visibly battered neighbor on TV.

The

fire brigade, police and emergency services

were in action with around two dozen vehicles.

According to media reports, residents of neighboring buildings, including a retirement home, were immediately brought to safety.

The site of the accident was cordoned off extensively because of the risk of collapse.

Update from January 20, 4:30 p.m.:

According to the first reports,

at least two fatalities are

assumed, some media also report four deaths.

Costanachrichten.com * also reports directly from Spain about the incident.

Update from January 20, 4:20 p.m.:

Madrid's mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said that it is currently assumed that it is a

gas explosion

.

The building is on

fire

from the inside

, which is why it is not advisable to intervene.

Accordingly, the

rescue workers

seem

condemned

to watch.

Explosion in Madrid: cause unclear so far - videos show extent of destruction

First report from January 20th:

Madrid - There was a huge

explosion

in the center of the

Spanish capital Madrid

.

A multi-storey building was largely destroyed in the process.

There is still no information about possible victims, reported the Spanish television station RTVE and other media, citing the authorities.

So far there are hardly any eyewitness reports.

However, videos of the accident are circulating on Twitter.

Explosions in downtown Madrid:

pic.twitter.com/ZCpGNGi44a

- Liyun Gothóni🗽 (@authenticsilvr) January 20, 2021

The

explosion

is said to have come on Wednesday, January 20, around 3 p.m.

The cause was initially unknown.

The Spanish broadcaster La Sexta TV speaks of a gas leak, citing government circles.

This has not yet been officially confirmed.

The fire brigade was on site with several vehicles.

Spanish media reported that residents of neighboring buildings, including a retirement home, were being brought to safety.

(nai) * costanachrichten.com is part of the Ippen-Digital editorial network

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