Four injured in explosion in Barcelona apartment building
Firefighters evacuate surroundings as police investigate bar owner
An explosion in the early hours of Tuesday morning in a Barcelona apartment building has left 4 people injured, one of which is in serious condition.
The incident took place at Carrer de València, 73, in the Eixample neighborhood, right before 4 am, and is still being investigated by the Mossos d'Esquadra police.
Moments esgarrifants incendi a Barcelona entre carrer valencia i avinguda roma. Explosió i molta flama i fum. Espero que tothom estigui bé…. Molt de vent i propagació ràpida. Bombers treballant-hi ja @324cat pic.twitter.com/7uoimnnFX0
— Robert Diez (@robertdiezjr) April 12, 2022
The explosion is reported to have occurred on the ground floor of the building, where a bar was located, and to have caused fires on other floors and in neighboring buildings.
Albert Batlle, the city councilor for security, confirmed that the owner of the bar, who is in serious condition, is also in police custody.
"We left quickly to see what was happening," Iliana, who lives in the building where the explosion occurred, explained. "I went out on the front balcony and saw a lot of smoke in the street and we immediately thought the girl had blown up the bar."
"She had already threatened passersby or people from the bar next door that she'd burn the bar down," she added.
According to Batlle, the bar owner was problematic and police had tried to shut the business down as recently as last Friday only to find that the establishment was already closed when they arrived.
Firefighters evacuated a total of 8 buildings, and although some people have already been allowed back home, structural damage to Carrer de València, 73, and two apartments at Avinguda Roma, 90, means those residents will have to wait.