At least 25 people were injured after a powerful gas explosion ripped through a building in Madrid’s Puente de Vallecas district on Saturday afternoon. Authorities confirmed on Sunday that five of the injured remain in critical condition.
The blast, which occurred shortly after 3pm local time, tore through a commercial space that had been converted into a residence, damaging the apartments above and a neighbouring bar.
Residents described hearing a deafening bang and seeing smoke billow across the busy district.
Carlos MarÃn de la Bárcena, chief of Madrid’s fire service, ruled out terrorism and confirmed the cause as a gas explosion, though investigators have yet to determine the source or the precise location.
The explosion left significant structural damage, particularly to the flooring between the ground and first levels of the three-storey building.
Madrid’s deputy mayor said residents of nine apartments had been evacuated and may need to be relocated for several days while safety assessments continue.
Inmaculada Sanz, the city’s head of security and emergencies, said Samur Social was working to provide temporary housing for those affected.
She added that firefighters were clearing debris manually due to the fragility of the structure, which has prevented the use of heavy machinery.
At least four people have been rescued from the rubble, though Sanz indicated that it now seemed unlikely more victims would be found.
The explosion is the latest in a series of gas-related incidents to hit the Spanish capital in recent years, underlining persistent concerns about ageing infrastructure in some residential districts.
