The events in Manlleu have shaken the residents of Catalonia and all of Spain. The fire that claimed the lives of five teenagers has become a stark warning about safety issues in residential buildings and abandoned properties. The tragedy has highlighted just how dangerous unofficial gathering places for young people can be, raising concerns about oversight of such locations.
According to El Pais, a fire broke out late at night in one of the attic spaces of a residential building. As a result of the incident, five young people aged 14 to 17 died from toxic smoke inhalation. Police reports suggest that a carelessly discarded cigarette ignited a mattress, sparking the fire. The flames did not spread far, but thick black smoke quickly filled the confined space, leaving the teenagers with no chance to escape.
Consequences of the tragedy
By morning, the scene was deserted—no firefighters, no ambulances, and no officials remained. Only police tape was left, cordoning off the building while experts completed their inspection. Journalists and camera crews continued gathering information, and groups of the victims’ peers came to the site, struggling to return to normal life. Many of them knew the victims personally, sharing photos and memories and discussing details of what had happened.
Local residents note that attic spaces have long been used by young people as meeting places. These rooms lacked lighting, ventilation, or water. Inside, there were old mattresses, plastic chairs, and canisters of nitrous oxide, known as ‘laughing gas.’ According to the teenagers, such places provided a sense of privacy and protection from the cold, but no one thought about the risks.
Investigation and rumors
Immediately after the tragedy, rumors circulated in the city about an explosion of canisters or other dangerous substances. However, the Catalonia police (Mossos d’Esquadra) refuted these claims: there was no explosion, and the cause was a fire started by a mattress. Despite the official statements, alternative theories continue to spread among locals and on social media, causing further pain for the families of the victims.
Two girls from the same group, who left half an hour before the tragedy, escaped death by chance. Their accounts confirm that teenagers often gathered in these rooms, sometimes used nitrous oxide, but never expected a regular evening would end in disaster. Parents and neighbors are questioning why no one paid attention to the hazardous conditions and why access to the attics remained open.
Public response
In the small district of Manlleu, everyone knows each other. After the tragedy, many residents expressed sympathy, but questions also arise: why were the teenagers in an abandoned building, who was responsible for their safety, and how can similar incidents be prevented in the future? On social media and in the streets, people discuss not only the personal stories of the victims, but also the accountability of the adults in charge of the building and city services.
As reported by El Pais, the tragedy has exposed systemic issues: lack of oversight of abandoned properties, insufficient prevention among youth, and poor awareness of potential risks. Authorities in Catalonia have started inspecting such sites and are discussing measures to prevent further tragedies.
In recent years, Spain has seen similar incidents involving fires in abandoned or unofficially used buildings. In 2024, a group of teenagers was injured in a warehouse fire in Valencia, and in 2025, a basement fire in a Madrid apartment building resulted in two deaths. These incidents highlight the need for stricter safety control and better awareness among youth about the possible consequences of reckless behavior.
