The incident in Manlleu has sent shockwaves across Spain: the deaths of five teenagers in a fire at an abandoned rooftop storage area has reignited concerns over the safety of urban buildings and oversight of unused spaces. The tragedy has affected not only the victims’ families but the whole local community, sparking debate about the urgent need to rethink how abandoned premises are managed and how such incidents can be prevented.
According to ElPais, on Monday evening, a fire broke out in a three-story building in Manlleu, located in the province of Barcelona, claiming the lives of five young people aged 14 to 17. They became trapped in a small labyrinth of storage rooms on the rooftop. Preliminary reports suggest the fire started when an old mattress in one of the rooms was set alight. Plastic furniture and several gas canisters were also found inside, but investigators have ruled out their involvement in the start of the fire.
Progress of the investigation
Two teenagers who had also been in the premises a few hours before the tragedy told reporters they often gathered there with friends. They left about half an hour before the fire began and learned about what happened only late in the evening. According to witnesses, the space was a complex layout with several exits, but at the time of the fire, all escape routes were cut off by flames and smoke.
Firefighters received the first reports of the incident shortly after nine in the evening. They had to evacuate all residents from the building, which housed more than forty apartments. According to RUSSPAIN.COM, there had long been safety concerns in the building: doors to technical rooms were left open and part of the electrical supply was set up illegally. This created additional risks for all residents.
Authorities’ response
The Manlleu municipality has declared three days of mourning for the victims. The President of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, was present during the minute of silence. Authorities have promised a thorough inspection of all similar buildings in the city and pledged to take steps to prevent such tragedies in the future. Police continue their investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and find out why the teenagers were unable to escape the premises.
According to ElPais, investigators are considering several versions, but the main one remains careless handling of fire. Experts also note that such incidents are possible due to lack of control over abandoned premises and insufficient attention to safety issues in residential buildings.
Similar incidents
In recent years, Spain has already witnessed tragedies related to fires in abandoned or poorly secured buildings. In 2024, a fire in an old warehouse in Valencia resulted in the deaths of three people, and in Madrid in 2025, several teenagers were injured when a disused basement caught fire. Such incidents highlight the need for stricter oversight of these properties and greater responsibility from building owners. Authorities in various regions of the country have already begun reviewing access regulations for technical premises and strengthening measures to prevent unauthorized entry.
