A butane cylinder explosion in Barcelona's Poblenou district on Tuesday injured 11 people. The incident, at 13:34 at number 13 Venero Street, left a mother and her minor son with serious burns.

The two seriously injured individuals were transported to Vall d'Hebron Hospital. Nine other people sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalisation. The explosion occurred while one of the victims was cooking, according to Carlos Chico, head of unit and intervention for Bombers de Barcelona.

Mr Chico confirmed that the mother and son suffered "several serious burns." He added that their lives are not at risk. Firefighters fully extinguished the fire, and it did not have a widespread impact on the building.

Building Damage and Service Disruptions

However, the two-storey flat where the fire started is now uninhabitable. Two other flats on the same floor also became uninhabitable. The entire building lost electricity and water supply because the fire damaged the meters.

Restoring these essential services could take "several days," Mr Chico warned. This leaves many residents in a difficult situation. The Centre d'Urgències i Emergències Socials de Barcelona (CUESB) and Bombers de Barcelona informed affected residents about the situation.

Municipal services offered temporary accommodation for one to three days. Many residents declined this option, choosing instead to stay with family members. Affected residents expressed distress and confusion, unsure when their electricity and water would return.

Emergency Response and Community Impact

Around 18:00, neighbours waited at the street entrance to re-enter their homes and collect belongings. Poblenou, part of the Sant Martí district, is a vibrant area. It combines traditional charm with modern developments like the 22@ innovation district. The district is home to approximately 34,000 residents.

Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident. Ten units from Bombers de Barcelona attended the scene to manage the fire and assess the damage. The Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) deployed nine ambulances to provide medical assistance.

Protecció Civil pre-alerted the Procicat plan due to the incident's nature. Mossos d'Esquadra and Guàrdia Urbana closed Venero Street. They also closed nearby Llull, Pujades, and Llacuna streets to ensure public safety and facilitate emergency operations. The 112 emergency line received 31 calls concerning the explosion.

Ongoing Support for Residents

A worker from the nearby Fundación Pere Relats, an elderly residence located about 400 metres from the explosion site, described the initial moments. "I did not hear the explosion, but I saw people running, and it was a somewhat chaotic moment until the firefighters arrived," the worker recounted.

As a precautionary measure, the foundation closed its windows to prevent smoke from entering. Residents were not confined, and staff and family could still access the facility. Authorities continue to assess the building's structural integrity and the full extent of damage to services.

The focus remains on supporting affected residents. Officials are working to restore essential utilities to the building in the coming days. This will help residents return to their homes and daily routines as quickly as possible.

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Originally published by 20 Minutos Barcelona. Read original article.