Valencia's mayoress Maria Jose Catala said foreigners are among those still missing after the devastating blaze, but no nationalities have been released by officials yet.
Tourists are among 14 people missing and feared dead in the Valencia apartment block inferno in addition to four victims known to have died when fire spread in the Grenfell Tower-like disaster.
'We know there are foreigners and the information we have is likely to change during the day.' No nationalities have been released by officials yet on those feared dead. More dramatic footage from the scene shows a man jumping several floors onto an inflatable mat to escape the raging fire, while other homeowners were seen awaiting rescue on their terraces as the flames closed in around them
Building manager and resident Adriana reacts at the scene of a fire of apartment building in Valencia last nightThe building in Valencia was covered in russ this morning as firefighters get ready to enter and look for those missing and feared dead The injured people included nine men aged 25 and 57, four women aged between 27 and 81, and a seven-year-old boy.
With flames closing in, the man and woman were trapped on their balcony for almost two hours before being plucked to safety by firefighters in cherry pickers. They were plucked to safety around 8pm, with onlookers fearing a fatal outcome cheering as they were brought to the ground. Residents who managed to make it out alive said last night the fire had spread through the entire two residential towers affected in the 30 minutes after the first flames were detected.Firefighters worked through the night to put out the huge inferno, which left the building completely gutted
A woman called Maite, who lives opposite the apartment block, told local press: 'I saw people being burnt and shouting for help from balconies, a couple and a child. I'm feeling devastated. 'The characteristics of the building make it impossible to carry out any such work inside the structure so the work being done at the moment is focused on cooling down the outside and that's going to be the focus over the next few hours.
Firefighters inspect the aftermath of a huge fire that yesterday raged through a multistorey residential block killing at least four people, in Valencia on February 23, 2024Pictures of the building before the blaze Speaking to EFE, Esther Puchades, who is deputy head of Valencia's Industrial Engineers Association , blamed the building's cladding for the fire's ferocity and said that the tragedy may mark 'a turning point' in Spain.
'Today it is not used, at least not in that way,' she added, referring to increased safety measures around its usage in Spain. Spanish rescue services members take care of a person affected by a fire in a 14-story residential building in ValenciaA black cloud of smoke entirely engulfed the building on Thursday evening and flames
A woman who runs a nearby flower shop told public television the building was no more than 14 years old and had more than 100 flats, all of which were occupied.