Thirteen people died Sunday morning in a night club fire in southeastern Murica, Spain.
Fire broke out at the Teatre nightclub in the Atalayas area around 6 p.m. local time, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Smoke reportedly funneled out of windows as the building blazed during busy hours.
⚫️Lamentamos comunicar que los fallecidos en el incendio de Atalayas ascienden a 13 personas.
Los servicios de emergencias continúan trabajando en la zona.
— José Ballesta (@Ballesta_Murcia) October 1, 2023
“We regret to inform you that the deaths in the Atalayas fires amount to 13 people,” Mayor José Balleata wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Emergency services continue to work on the area.”
Four bodies were reportedly discovered by firefighters two hours after the fire started; two more bodies were found 40 minutes later. Additional bodies were found as the building search progressed, the outlet reported. (RELATED: ‘This Was Hell’: Decorations Ignite At Iraq Wedding Celebration, Leaving Over 100 Dead: REPORT)
Four people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, according to the outlet. Counseling for those affected by the incident is reportedly being provided by a local sports venue.
“We are devastated,” Balleata told Spanish TV channel 24h.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. The mayor has declared a day of mourning, the BBC reported. Investigators continue to search for missing people.