Feb 17, 2026, 4:18 p.mFeb 17, 2026, 4:18 p.m
Five students died in a house fire in Spain. The accident occurred at night in Manlleu, Catalonia, around 80 kilometers north of Barcelona.
The room was used by young people as a meeting place.Image: keystone
This was announced by the fire department of the region in northeastern Spain. The fatalities were between 14 and 18 years old, the TV station RTVE and other media reported, citing relatives. According to authorities, four other people were slightly injured. The cause of the fire is still unclear.
According to the emergency services, the fire broke out late on Monday evening in a storage room on the roof terrace of a five-story residential building. The room was used by young people as a meeting place. The people who were there were no longer able to leave the building in time.
The entire building had to be evacuated. Several families were able to return to their homes on Tuesday morning. The members of three families were temporarily accommodated in a hotel, as the Catalan newspaper “La Vanguardia” reported, citing the authorities. Investigations into the cause have begun.
Residents of the disaster area “devastated”
The district where the fire occurred has for decades been characterized by a large community of Moroccan origins, which was particularly hard hit by the loss of the five students, RTVE reported. Hours after the accident, there was still disbelief in the streets and many neighbors were in shock, according to the state television station.
The fatalities are between 14 and 18 years old.Image: keystone
Hanna, a resident of the house, described her dismay in an interview with RTVE: “We all knew them… they were still minors.” Malika, a friend of the mother of one of the victims, said the local Moroccan community was devastated by the news.
The consternation reached far beyond the city limits of Manlleu and was huge throughout Spain, but especially in Catalonia. Regional head of government Salvador Illa said on X that he was “shocked by the deaths of five young people” and thanked the fire department for their quick response. (sda/dpa)