A fire in a Barcelona metro tunnel led to the evacuation of nearly 200 passengers. Dozens required hospital care after smoke entered the carriages. The incident has sparked calls for a review of metro safety protocols.
Barcelona's metro network faced a major disruption after a fire broke out in a tunnel on Line 1 between Clot and Glòries, forcing the evacuation of passengers and sending dozens to hospitals. The incident, which occurred on Monday, was traced to the ignition of a waterproofing material installed during previous construction works near Glòries, according to Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) CEO Xavier Flores. The situation escalated when several passengers activated the emergency brake and opened train doors, allowing smoke to flood the carriages before the official evacuation protocol could be completed.
Emergency services responded quickly, with the Sistema d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) attending to 139 people. Of these, 129 suffered minor injuries and seven were classified as less serious. In total, 39 individuals were transported to hospitals and urgent care centers. The train driver, upon detecting the fire about 50 meters from the source, attempted to follow protocol by switching cabins to reverse the train and evacuate passengers at Clot station. However, the premature use of emergency door releases by passengers forced an evacuation through the tunnel itself, complicating rescue efforts and increasing exposure to smoke.
TMB has confirmed that the waterproofing material involved is unique within the entire metro system and was specifically installed during works in the Glòries area. The company has launched an internal investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire and maintains that the Barcelona metro remains safe for public use. The incident comes amid a turbulent summer for the city's transport network, following a series of recent disruptions, including a sinkhole caused by L9 construction in Putxet and a gas explosion on L5 in Sants.
The aftermath of the fire has triggered political criticism. Jordi Martí, president of Junts per Barcelona, has demanded a thorough review of metro safety protocols and called for explanations from both TMB and Barcelona's mayor, Jaume Collboni. Martí argued that the evacuation process was unacceptable and could have resulted in far more severe consequences for the nearly 200 people affected. He also highlighted that, according to passenger accounts, many evacuated the tunnel on their own before receiving assistance. This latest event adds to a string of significant incidents linked to metro operations and railway construction in Barcelona in recent months.
Service on the metro returned to normal the day after the fire, with all lines operating without further issues, according to TMB. The company continues to emphasize the safety of the network while the investigation proceeds. The incident has renewed public debate over the robustness of emergency procedures and the adequacy of materials used in infrastructure projects. Similar concerns about evacuation and emergency response have arisen in other parts of Spain, as seen during recent wildfires that forced mass evacuations in Ávila and Madrid, detailed in reports such as how Talavera de la Reina and Escalona hosted evacuees during the crisis.
Barcelona's metro is one of the busiest in Spain, serving millions of passengers each month. Incidents like this highlight the challenges of maintaining safety in aging urban infrastructure, especially during periods of intense construction and renovation. The focus now shifts to the outcome of the ongoing investigation and whether further changes to safety protocols will be implemented to prevent similar events in the future.
