A shocking tragedy in the Catalan city of Manlleu near Barcelona. Five teenagers aged 14 to 17 died in a fire in a small storage room on the roof of a five-story building. The victims likely lost consciousness due to inhaling toxic carbon monoxide, preventing their escape from the trap. Authorities are investigating the incident's causes, pointing to accidental ignition.

Five Fatalities

In the fire, five boys aged 14 to 17 died, who were staying in a small storage room on the roof of an apartment block.

Lethal Carbon Monoxide Concentration

The victims died due to smoke inhalation; toxic gases led to loss of consciousness, preventing escape.

Cause of the Accident

Preliminary findings point to accidental ignition of a mattress, likely from a cigarette butt, in a room without ventilation.

The tragic event occurred on Monday evening in the l'Erm district of Manlleu. Five young boys aged 14 to 17 were spending time in a small trastero measuring just eight square meters, located on the roof of a building at Montseny 66 street. Investigative findings indicate the fire broke out suddenly, and the direct cause of the teenagers' deaths was carbon monoxide poisoning. Toxic gases caused the victims to immediately lose consciousness and not even attempt to escape the room, which lacked proper ventilation. Multi-family housing construction in Spain from the 1960s and 1970s often features dense rooftop structures, where informal utility rooms were created that do not meet modern fire safety standards or safe evacuation requirements.Firefighters from the Bombers de the Generalitat arrived shortly after receiving the report, but despite a rapid rescue operation, it was too late to help the young people. Other residents of the building were evacuated and did not sustain serious injuries, although five people required medical assistance for minor injuries or shock. The investigation led by the Mossos d'Esquadra indicates the fire may have been caused by a cigarette butt that led to a mattress smoldering. Although the fire did not fully ignite, the smoke proved deadly in the enclosed space. 8 m² — area of the room where 5 people died Authorities in Manlleu declared a day of mourning and organized a minute of silence to honor the memory of the deceased: Mohamed Z., Adam B., Amine A., Mohamed M., and Mustapha B.. This tragedy has sparked debate about fire safety in poorer neighborhoods of Catalan cities, where young people often seek isolated meeting places away from adult supervision. Safety experts emphasize that the lack of windows and narrow evacuation routes in such facilities make them death traps in case of even the slightest smoke. „The tragedy of five young people dying in a fire in a storage room on the top floor of a building in Manlleu has shaken the city.” — Lluís Foix Timeline of the tragic event in Manlleu: — ; — ; — ; —

Mentioned People

  • Lluís Foix — Spanish journalist and commentator discussing the tragedy in Manlleu.