A total of 80 residents from two apartment blocks in Valencia were evacuated as a precaution on Thursday after a fire broke out on two ground floors, causing a dense build-up of smoke. No injuries have been reported, according to municipal sources.
The building, located in Valencia’s Benicalap neighbourhood, prompted the deployment of dozens of fire service crews. Although the blaze is now under control, emergency teams are still working in the area.
The flames were confined to the ground floor, which was occupied by squatters and was due to be cleared on Thursday under a court order, according to police sources. Investigators are analysing whether the fire was started deliberately, although other lines of inquiry remain open.
Valencia’s mayor, María José Catalá, went to Picayo street, where she said some residents might not be able to spend the night in their homes because of the high concentration of smoke. In response, the council has activated the Social Emergency Care and Emergency Support Service (SAUS) to assist those affected and assess their needs.
The mayor said firefighters are continuing extinguishing operations and rescuing pets, and highlighted that a court-ordered eviction had taken place in the ground-floor properties earlier in the day. The causes of the fire are being investigated, with no hypothesis ruled out. She confirmed that there are no injuries and that some residents have already been taken to a municipal centre.
Several groups of residents have complained that the situation with the people squatting on the ground floor had become untenable: "There were threats, a lot of filth and even faeces on the floor," they say.
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