The fire reportedly started on the fourth floor. Within 30 minutes, the flames had spread throughout the building and at least four deaths and 15 injuries were reported.
Ukrainian citizens Dmitry Khambarov and Oksana Volkova lived in the building and were at home when the fire broke out. “The fire alarm didn’t work. We didn’t have time to take almost anything. We quickly went downstairs. We wanted to take the car from the garage, but the police stopped us. It’s new and it’s the only thing we have left,” Dimitro said.
In addition to the spouses, other Ukrainian citizens also lived in the house. “About 15 people fled the war and lived there,” Dimitro said. The couple’s dog reportedly survived the fire, but many of the neighbors’ pets died.Dimitro and Oksana are among the first residents to move into the Valencia hotel. “We arrived in Valencia to escape bombs in Ukraine, and now the fire has left us with nothing,” Dimitro lamented.
Fifteen people remain missing, including a newborn baby and a three-year-old boy. The possibility of more casualties inside the building cannot be ruled out.