A tragic Manlleu fire has claimed at least five lives in a residential building in Manlleu, a town in the province of Barcelona. The blaze broke out late on Monday night in a rooftop storage area that someone had converted into living quarters.
Emergency services reported that four other individuals suffered minor injuries during the incident at the block on Carrer Montseny, Manlleu.
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Manlleu Fire Traps Victims in Rooftop Dwelling
According to reports verified by local sources, the Manlleu fire originated in a storage room (trastero) on the roof of the five-storey building. Someone had adapted this space for use as a residence. For reasons currently under investigation, the occupants inside were unable to escape the flames.
The Firefighters of the Generalitat (Bombers de la Generalitat) received the initial alert at 9:10 pm. Meanwhile, several residents had called emergency services (112) to report a fire on the top floor and smoke filling the communal staircase.
Emergency Response to the Manlleu Fire
Thirteen firefighting units immediately responded to the scene. Upon arrival, they found that residents had already evacuated the main building. Consequently, crews worked rapidly to contain the blaze. They declared the fire extinguished at 9:41 pm, just over half an hour after the first call.
During the operation, firefighters located the first victim in a state of cardiorespiratory arrest. Subsequently, as teams expedited their search of the rooftop area, they discovered four additional victims inside the converted storage room.
The Medical Emergency System (SEM) deployed 11 ambulances and two psychological support teams to assist survivors and the victims’ families.
Investigation Underway into Manlleu Fire
Of the four injured survivors, three received treatment on-site and left shortly after. The fourth declined hospital transfer. Additionally, the Local Police provided immediate support to the evacuated neighbours, many of whom the heavy smoke in the stairwell had alarmed.
The Catalan police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, has taken charge of the investigation. Supported by citizen security patrols, the Investigation Unit is now working to clarify the causes of the Manlleu fire and the circumstances surrounding the converted rooftop dwelling, another recent tragic incident in Catalonia.
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