Two people dead and 12 more injured in blaze at a Madrid restaurant caused by a flaming pizza
Two dead, 12 injured in Madrid restaurant fire caused by a flaming pizza that set ceiling and walls on fire
- The fire started last night at Burro Canaglia Bar&Resto in Salamanca, Madrid
- One person who died was an employee and the other was a customer
Two people were killed and 12 others injured at a restaurant in Madrid after a flaming pizza set fire to the ceiling and walls.
The fire started late last night at Burro Canaglia Bar&Resto, an Italian restaurant in the central Salamanca district.
One person who died was a restaurant worker, while the other was a customer, Madrid Mayor Luis Martinez-Almeida said outside the building. Both victims were between 25 and 30 years old.
Six of the injured were taken to hospital following the fire, which broke out at around 11pm, all of whom were described as in serious or critical condition.
Some customers are said to have celebrated a birthday, but it is not known whether they were among the victims.
Two people were killed and 12 others injured at a restaurant in Madrid after a flaming pizza set fire to the ceiling and walls
Six of the injured were taken to hospital following the fire, which broke out around 11pm, all of whom were described as in serious or critical condition
Firefighters gathered outside Canaglia Bar&Resto, an Italian restaurant in the central Salamanca district, after the blaze
An eyewitness told El Pais newspaper that the fire started after a waiter flambéed a pizza and the flames burned the ceiling and walls.
Madrid fire chief Carlos Martin said the fire happened near a fire station and people could run to warn them of the accident.
Diners found it difficult to flee when the fire started near the main exit, emergency services said.
According to the mayor, there were about 30 guests and staff in the restaurant at the time of the fire. BBC.
He added that there would have been more casualties if firefighters had taken longer to get to the scene – with the blaze extinguished within 10 minutes of the initial fire warning.
Emergency services coordinator Emergencies Madrid confirmed: “A fire in a restaurant in Manuel Becerra Square has led to the deaths of two people.
“Six injured people have been taken to different hospitals in serious condition. Four other people suffered minor injuries.
One person who died was a restaurant worker, while the other was a customer, Madrid Mayor Luis Martinez-Almeida said outside the building.
Several people rescued from the property by firefighters were said to be unconscious when they were brought to us and laid on the curb as paramedics tried to resuscitate them
Twelve fire crews extinguished the fire, which quickly spread across the ceiling of the restaurant.
“They also saved several people, customers and employees.”
One of the customers, who managed to escape and make it to the street with the fire still raging, said: ‘Everyone started yelling and screaming for help.
“They were moments of panic because there were people trapped who couldn’t escape because of the fire and smoke.”
Several people who were rescued from the property by firefighters were reported to be unconscious when they were brought to us and placed on the curb as paramedics tried to resuscitate them.
Fire chief Carlos Marin said: ‘People came running to the fire station, which is only about 400 meters from the restaurant.
“Our response was very quick because half of us responded by running to the crime scene on foot and the other half in vehicles.
“People were trapped when we arrived and after we put out the flames we carried out 12 rescues.
“They were trapped because the flames prevented them from reaching the exit.”
The police are investigating the cause of the incident.