A multi-storey skyscraper was largely destroyed in an explosion in the center of Madrid.
The cause is apparently clear.
Three 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.
Three people died and many were injured.
This
news ticker
is updated regularly.
Update from January 21, 6:35 a.m.:
One day after the
Madrid
explosion
, the Spanish capital is still in a state of shock.
“It was like an earthquake, I thought it was a bomb,” a witness told the daily
El País
.
There is currently talk of
three dead and eleven injured
.
“It was a drama,” said the Mayor of
Madrid
,
José Luis Martínez Almeida
.
More details are now emerging.
A strong smell of gas is said to have
filled
the community center of the
Iglesia de la Virgen de la Paloma
early Wednesday afternoon
.
One of the priests, who was in one of the apartments above, decided, according to the archdiocese, to finally call an electrician.
David Santos Muñoz
came immediately - and investigated the smell of gas.
Only minutes later,
El País
reports
, the explosion occurred.
Around 7 p.m., the Madrid authorities confirmed the death of the father of four
Muñoz
.
Explosion in Madrid kills: Snow probably prevented a major catastrophe - father of four among victims
Update from January 20, 9:31 p.m.:
The
deceased technician
is said to have been 35 years old.
His
four children
now have to grow up without a father.
The
exploded gas boiler
is said to have been defective for days,
but it was not possible to
repair
it
earlier because of the snow storm
.
Update from January 20, 8:10 p.m.: It is
now clear that the
technician
who was considered missing and who
tampered
with the gas pipe and possibly
triggered
the
explosion is
among the three deceased.
The government delegate José Manuel Franco reported on the radio station
Cadena Ser
.
Update from January 20, 8:05 p.m.:
The
demolition work for the upper floors of the exploded building should
begin
early Thursday morning
.
Urban Development Delegate Mariano Fuentes said, according to
El País
, that cranes would start working at 8 a.m.
However, it must be proceeded very, very carefully.
Explosion in Madrid: An injured person is said to be in critical condition
Update from January 20, 6:20 p.m.:
According to information from
El País
, a 36-year-old with
multiple trauma is
in
critical condition
after the explosion in Madrid
.
A 53-year-old suffered a
head trauma
, but is stable.
In addition, a 29-year-old broke his
fibula
and a 27-year-old suffered an
ankle injury
.
Update from January 20, 6 p.m.:
Apparently the
onset of winter around Madrid was
a lucky coincidence.
As Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida explained, there were
no children in a schoolyard
due to the remains of snow
, on which several pieces of rubble from the building fell.
Update from January 20, 5:50 p.m.:
In Spanish media such as the TV broadcaster RTVE it is reported that the two as yet unspecified
fatalities were male
.
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
.
Explosion in Madrid: accident happened while checking the gas pipes
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.
+
Several victims: In addition to dead, there are also some injured, some of whom are treated in clinics.
© Bernat Armangue / dpa
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.
+
An explosion in the center of Madrid destroyed a multi-story skyscraper.
© Europa Press / EUROPA PRESS / dpa
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
List of rubric lists: © Oscar del Pozo / afp