Two women dead and six injured in fire at brothel in Bellpuig

Two women have died and six people sustained injuries of varying severity in a fire at a brothel in Bellpuig, Urgell county, western Catalonia. 

The fire was reported around 9:30am on Saturday morning at a nightlcub brothel called Estrellas, located on the ground floor of a building on the N-II road.

The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) have launched an investigation and are keeping all hypotheses open, including the possibility that the fire may be connected to a fatal incident on the railway tracks that took place shortly afterward, a short distance from the building that caught fire.

Although the number of people inside the premises at the time is still unknown, two women were trapped by the flames and died.

In addition, six others were injured and taken to Arnau de Vilanova Hospital in Lleida. They are expected to be discharged on Monday.

Initial investigations at the premises suggest the fire was accidental.

"We are shocked. Three lives have been lost and we are shaken," said Oliva, who also announced a day of mourning in the municipality.

She also expressed gratitude to the emergency services for their "swift response."

Police are also investigating if the fire is connected to a man being fatally struck on the railway tracks nearby. "The victim is believed to be a homeless man who was crossing directly over the tracks, not at a level crossing," Oliva said.

The fire service's response to the fire involved around 20 personnel and 11 units in total: seven water trucks, a ladder truck, and three command units.

When they arrived, the fire was already fully developed in a ground-floor space.

In a message on X (formerly Twitter), the Catalan president, Salvador Illa sent his condolences to the families and neighbors of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Illa is currently on an official trip to China.