Three confirmed dead and one missing in huge explosion in central Madrid
A huge explosion destroyed the upper half of a building located in Calle Toledo in Madrid's La Latina district on Wednesday lunchtime.
Madrid mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who spoke to journalists at the scene confirmed that at least two people had died in the explosion and others had been taken to hospital for treatment.
Emergency services later confirmed the two fatalities and said six people were people treated for light injuries, one for moderate injuries and another who was in a serious condition and had been taken to Madrid's La Paz hospital for treatment.
Balance #explosión en la calle Toledo. 2 personas fallecidas, 6 heridos leves, uno moderado y uno grave trasladado a La Paz. @SAMUR_PC @BomberosMad @policiademadrid y @policia continúan trabajando en la zona. pic.twitter.com/N4IbUD0PY9
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021
By 6pm the confirmed death toll had risen to three with the victims identified as a 85 year old woman and a young man who was carrying out maintainence in the building. Their names will not be released until their families have been informed.
Desplegados en la calle Toledo más de 120 agentes especializados de Policía Nacional: UIP, UPR, TEDAX, Subsuelo, SMA, Policía Científica, Seguridad Ciudadana, Información y Guías Caninos.
Se continúa trabajando en el aseguramiento del lugar#Madrid #Explosión pic.twitter.com/3g6SnbngHb
— Policía Nacional (@policia) January 20, 2021
The government's delegate for Madrid, José Manuel Franco confirmed a third death but provided no details he also confirmed that the blast was caused by a gas explosion.
El @DGobiernoMadrid @conJoseMFranco con el ministro del @interiorgob, el secretario de Estado de Seguridad y el jefe Superior de @policia reunidos en la calle Toledo inspeccionando los daños provocados por la explosión de gas en #Madrid pic.twitter.com/WwI2WInOuf
— Delegación del Gobierno en Madrid (@DGobiernoMadrid) January 20, 2021
A 36-year-old man is reported to be fighting for his life in hospital after being caught in the explosion.
Footage captured from people at the scene showed the destruction of the top four storeys of the residential building at number 98 on Calle de Toledo.
The collapsed building is reportedly a religious complex owned by the Catholic Church that provided residential training for priests and gave meals for the homeless.
Church authorities confirmed that priests from the nearby Iglesia de La Paloma lived on the fifth and sixth floors of the building.
ÚLTIMA HORA: Explosión de gas en Puerta de Toledo, centro de Madrid pic.twitter.com/nSmDjOjzcP
— Apocalipsis (@Apocalipsis1936) January 20, 2021
A huge plume of smoke was visible across the area near Puerta de Toledo as fire engines raced to the scene and police cordoned off the zone.
Explosión en Madrid, zona la latina pic.twitter.com/zSXS3u5g2e
— ??????? ?????? (@JuancarPliego) January 20, 2021
Emergency services evacuated nearby buildings.
La explosión se ha producido en el número 98 de la calle Toledo. @SAMUR_PC está atendiendo a varias personas heridas. @BomberosMad trabaja en asegurar la zona. pic.twitter.com/qe8fdqkUOo
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021
Reports initially suggested the explosion affected a residential home for the elderly and according to Google Maps, the damaged building is located next to a school.
However reports later confirmed that no injuries were reported among residents at the elderly care home or at the school.
Antonio Berlanga, director of the Los Nogales residence in Madrid which is located next door to the explosion site told TVE that none of the residents had been injured in the blast. he confirmed that all residents had been safely evacuated from the building and safely relocated to a cafe and hotel nearby.
Ha sido la iglesia al lado de la residencia de tercera edad y están evacuando los ancianos pic.twitter.com/ldPytldTKC
— CAFÉ PAVÓN (@CafePavon) January 20, 2021
Debris could be seen spread across a wide area.
ÚLTIMA HORA: Explosión en Puerta de Toledo, centro de Madrid pic.twitter.com/t9j0INZfKi
— 6w (@6w_es) January 20, 2021
Neighbours reported hearing the loud explosion which shook windows across the area.
"Nine fire crews and 11 ambulances have gone to Calle Toledo following an explosion in a building," local emergency services confirmed.
IN PICS: Blast in central Madrid destroys residential building
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Madrid mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who spoke to journalists at the scene confirmed that at least two people had died in the explosion and others had been taken to hospital for treatment.
Emergency services later confirmed the two fatalities and said six people were people treated for light injuries, one for moderate injuries and another who was in a serious condition and had been taken to Madrid's La Paz hospital for treatment.
Balance #explosión en la calle Toledo. 2 personas fallecidas, 6 heridos leves, uno moderado y uno grave trasladado a La Paz. @SAMUR_PC @BomberosMad @policiademadrid y @policia continúan trabajando en la zona. pic.twitter.com/N4IbUD0PY9
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021
By 6pm the confirmed death toll had risen to three with the victims identified as a 85 year old woman and a young man who was carrying out maintainence in the building. Their names will not be released until their families have been informed.
Desplegados en la calle Toledo más de 120 agentes especializados de Policía Nacional: UIP, UPR, TEDAX, Subsuelo, SMA, Policía Científica, Seguridad Ciudadana, Información y Guías Caninos.
— Policía Nacional (@policia) January 20, 2021
Se continúa trabajando en el aseguramiento del lugar#Madrid #Explosión pic.twitter.com/3g6SnbngHb
The government's delegate for Madrid, José Manuel Franco confirmed a third death but provided no details he also confirmed that the blast was caused by a gas explosion.
El @DGobiernoMadrid @conJoseMFranco con el ministro del @interiorgob, el secretario de Estado de Seguridad y el jefe Superior de @policia reunidos en la calle Toledo inspeccionando los daños provocados por la explosión de gas en #Madrid pic.twitter.com/WwI2WInOuf
— Delegación del Gobierno en Madrid (@DGobiernoMadrid) January 20, 2021
A 36-year-old man is reported to be fighting for his life in hospital after being caught in the explosion.
Footage captured from people at the scene showed the destruction of the top four storeys of the residential building at number 98 on Calle de Toledo.
The collapsed building is reportedly a religious complex owned by the Catholic Church that provided residential training for priests and gave meals for the homeless.
Church authorities confirmed that priests from the nearby Iglesia de La Paloma lived on the fifth and sixth floors of the building.
ÚLTIMA HORA: Explosión de gas en Puerta de Toledo, centro de Madrid pic.twitter.com/nSmDjOjzcP
— Apocalipsis (@Apocalipsis1936) January 20, 2021
A huge plume of smoke was visible across the area near Puerta de Toledo as fire engines raced to the scene and police cordoned off the zone.
Explosión en Madrid, zona la latina pic.twitter.com/zSXS3u5g2e
— ??????? ?????? (@JuancarPliego) January 20, 2021
Emergency services evacuated nearby buildings.
La explosión se ha producido en el número 98 de la calle Toledo. @SAMUR_PC está atendiendo a varias personas heridas. @BomberosMad trabaja en asegurar la zona. pic.twitter.com/qe8fdqkUOo
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021
Reports initially suggested the explosion affected a residential home for the elderly and according to Google Maps, the damaged building is located next to a school.
However reports later confirmed that no injuries were reported among residents at the elderly care home or at the school.
Antonio Berlanga, director of the Los Nogales residence in Madrid which is located next door to the explosion site told TVE that none of the residents had been injured in the blast. he confirmed that all residents had been safely evacuated from the building and safely relocated to a cafe and hotel nearby.
Ha sido la iglesia al lado de la residencia de tercera edad y están evacuando los ancianos pic.twitter.com/ldPytldTKC
— CAFÉ PAVÓN (@CafePavon) January 20, 2021
Debris could be seen spread across a wide area.
ÚLTIMA HORA: Explosión en Puerta de Toledo, centro de Madrid pic.twitter.com/t9j0INZfKi
— 6w (@6w_es) January 20, 2021
Neighbours reported hearing the loud explosion which shook windows across the area.
"Nine fire crews and 11 ambulances have gone to Calle Toledo following an explosion in a building," local emergency services confirmed.
IN PICS: Blast in central Madrid destroys residential building
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