Thirteen people died on October 1 in a fire that engulfed two nightclubs in Murcia as a result of the failure to follow the evacuation plan of the establishments, which required the room where the fire originated to notify adjacent rooms, which did not happen. Inspectors from the Judicial Police of Murcia have confirmed this before the judge handling the case, stating that the negligence of the Teatre nightclub staff, where the fire started, in notifying the Fonda Milagros nightclub next door, where the 13 victims died, led to the deaths. Both nightclubs shared a common evacuation plan which mandated such notification in case of fire. Lawyers representing the owners of Fonda Milagros have confirmed this, with one lawyer stating that the deaths occurred due to the failure to follow the evacuation plan.
The inspector conducting the report has emphasized the lack of coordination and total lack of coordination between the nightclubs in the evacuation process. It has been noted that there was no alert between the establishments and that Teatre nightclub evacuated all of its customers and staff about three minutes before Fonda Milagros started evacuating, a crucial time difference according to the police. The inspector from the Judicial Police of Murcia arrived at the court to testify, highlighting the importance of proper coordination in emergency situations to prevent tragic outcomes like this fire.
Despite the ongoing investigation into possible negligent homicide charges, the judge did not allow specific questions related to the administrative file of the nightclubs, which had a cease-and-desist order in place and were technically operating as a single venue due to being in the same industrial building separated by a partition wall. One lawyer involved in the case has filed a complaint against three municipal officials and the current and former Urbanism councilors, which has been accepted for consideration. Another lawyer representing families of victims has criticized the cautious approach of the judge and called for a thorough investigation to hold all responsible parties accountable.
The focus of the investigation is not only on determining the cause of the fire but also on identifying all the individuals responsible from beginning to end. Six individuals linked to the fire have been investigated so far, along with several survivors who have provided their testimonies. The need for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances leading to the tragic fire and hold those responsible accountable has been underscored by the attorneys representing the victims’ families. The importance of adherence to safety protocols and efficient coordination during emergencies has been highlighted in order to prevent such incidents in the future.
