One dead and 25 injured in explosion at Madrid bar

A powerful gas explosion on Saturday in Madrid’s Puente de Vallecas district caused significant damage to a bar and the residential building above it. A 52-year-old man was killed, and 25 others were injured, three of them seriously. 

The blast occurred in the afternoon at number 3, Manuel Maroto Street. Firefighters and police sniffer dogs resumed their search on Sunday morning after family members were unable to contact the victim. He was eventually found buried in the building’s basement beneath more than a metre of rubble, El País reported.

Residents evacuated

The force of the explosion also affected a nearby residential building that had been converted for commercial use. The structure between the ground and first floors sustained serious damage, forcing the evacuation of nine residents. Madrid’s deputy mayor, Inma Sanz, stated that residents would not be able to return for several days until the site was deemed safe. City technical experts are currently assessing the full extent of the damage, while the social service known as Samur Social is providing temporary accommodation for those displaced.

Due to the unstable condition of the building, debris is being cleared manually by firefighters, as the use of heavy machinery would pose too great a risk. Rescue teams managed to free four people from the rubble, and current investigations suggest no other individuals remain trapped at the site.

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Strong smell of gas detected before the explosion

According to local residents, a total of 11 families lived in the affected flats, including the owners of the converted shop where the explosion occurred. They had moved into the property six months ago with the owner’s permission. The nearby bar, Mis Tesoros, also suffered extensive damage.