Eleven people were injured, two seriously, after a butane gas cylinder exploded in a building on Carrer de Venero, number 13, in Barcelona. The blast happened shortly after 1:30pm on Tuesday, 12 May, in a flat occupied by a mother and daughter.
The explosion caused a fire and led to the evacuation of nine residents from the building. Nine ambulances from the Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) attended the scene. Paramedics treated the affected individuals, transporting the two women from inside the flat to Vall d'Hebron Hospital. One woman sustained serious injuries, while the other's injuries were less severe. Carlos Chico, head of the Barcelona Fire Brigade's intervention unit, stated that despite the severity of their burns, both women are stable. The other nine injured individuals received treatment at the scene for minor injuries and did not require hospitalisation.
Emergency Response and Building Damage
The incident, which occurred near Rambla del Poblenou in the Sant Martí district, prompted the activation of ten units from the Barcelona Fire Brigade, along with several patrols from the Guardia Urbana and Mossos d'Esquadra. Emergency services closed nearby streets, including Carrer de la Llacuna, to allow for proper operations. The cause of the butane cylinder explosion remains unknown.
By 4pm, the fire was extinguished, and firefighters entered the building to assess the damage. The flat where the explosion occurred and the adjacent one suffered serious damage and are currently uninhabitable. The City Council of Barcelona activated the Centre d'Urgències i Emergències Socials (CUESB), which provided assistance to the nine evacuated residents.
Official Statements and Next Steps
Protecció Civil activated the pre-alert phase of the PROCICAT plan, reporting that the 112 emergency telephone number received 31 calls about the incident. Albert Batlle, Barcelona City Council's Councillor for Security, also visited the site. Investigations into the exact cause of the explosion are expected to continue, determining the full extent of structural damage and when residents might be able to return.
