Five people, aged 14-18, found dead after a fire in a block of flats in Manlleu

Five young people, all aged between 14-18 years, have died after a fire burned through a block of flats in Manlleu, central Catalonia, on Monday night.

Five others were left with light injuries.

According to the Fire Department, the fire started in a storage room on the roof of a five-storey block and the people inside the storage room were unable to get out.

Authorities say that indications are that the deaths were accidental and that the people died of intoxication from inhalation of smoke, after something burned inside the storage rooms.

At the scene of the fire, an area without ventilation, no signs of any explosion, nor butane cylinders, were found. The bodies are still awaiting official identification.

The Fire Department extinguished the blaze in under half an hour and found the five people dead inside the building.

Emergency response units received notice of the incident around 9.10pm.

Several residents called 112 reporting the fire on the upper floor and smoke in the staircase.

Initially, it was reported that the storage room where the events took place had been designated as a home, but the police have ruled this out, instead indicating it was likely used as premises.

Thirteen firefighter crews were dispatched to the scene, and the building was already completely evacuated by the time they arrived.

Two firefighters located and extinguished the fire. At the same time, the first victim was located, a person in cardiorespiratory arrest. The four other fatal victims were found soon after.

Health response units sent eleven ambulances and two psychological support teams, but nothing could be done to save the lives of the victims.

Investigative police from the Mossos d'Esquadra have taken charge of the investigation to clarify the causes of the incident, while the local police have provided immediate support to the residents who have left the building.

The residents have been allowed to return to their homes, given that the building does not present any security problems.