NationStates Jolt Archive

This truly makes me sad and it certainly puts a bit of a damper on Spain's colective Christmas spirit, especially since children were injured.

http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/twenty_eight_injured_in_spanish_gas_explosion_near_barcelona/

The basement of the three-storey building was destroyed by fire, causing nearly the entire building to collapse

Twenty-eight people were injured early Wednesday in what was believed to have been a gas explosion in Gava near Barcelona in north-eastern Spain, officials said. Eighteen of the victims were in serious condition after sustaining burns in at least 60 per cent of their bodies.

The victims of the accident included at least 7 children.

Marina Geli added that five children were among those hurt in the explosion at 3am local time.

As dawn broke, firefighters from 23 fire units worked to put out flames which were shooting through the building's roof.

Furniture and electrical appliances were blown out of the building and into the area outside.

The building, which had four apartments on each floor, suffered serious damage to its walls and structure.

Gava is an industrial and farming town with a population of around 50,000.

The basement of the three-storey building was destroyed by fire, causing nearly the entire building to collapse.

Some 14 families lived in the building, local police told Spain's Efe new agency.

Fifty residents of nearby buildings were preventatively evacuated. The causes of the accident were being investigated.

It is believed the explosion was caused by a female neighbor, Ana M.P., who was supposed to be thrown out of the apartment for failing to make the monthly, rent payments this morning. She had written a letter that was published last week by the local newspaper saying that she was "desperate" regarding the situation.

Could she have caused the explosion in her desperation? What do you think, NSG?

Of course she COULD have. It's not that hard after all. Whether she did or would is another story.

While tragic, it's too soon to point fingers. Let the investigation find the evidence and draw conclusions once it presents the facts. Speculation never helped.

While tragic, it's too soon to point fingers. Let the investigation find the evidence and draw conclusions once it presents the facts. Speculation never helped.

The police is looking for Ana M.P.'s body. It hasn't been located. The neighbors have said, though, that they're certain she did it. Of course, as you say, it's too soon to know if there was any criminal intent on her part. It could have been just an accident and some electrical equipment in the house caught fire.

The police is looking for Ana M.P.'s body. It hasn't been located. The neighbors have said, though, that they're certain she did it. Of course, as you say, it's too soon to know if there was any criminal intent on her part. It could have been just an accident and some electrical equipment in the house caught fire.

Heresy. It doesn't get far in court. Even if the neighbours are certain she did it, none of that matters until the investigation is complete, or they find proof.

Do they know what apartment she was in? The article does say that the basement took the brunt of the damage. Twenty-eight injured doesn't account for the potential dead, who may even been Ana M.P. Of course, even if they do find her body, they won't be able to prove intent. If there is just a charred corpse, they can only speculate.

Heresy. It doesn't get far in court. Even if the neighbours are certain she did it, none of that matters until the investigation is complete, or they find proof.

Do they know what apartment she was in? The article does say that the basement took the brunt of the damage. Twenty-eight injured doesn't account for the potential dead, who may even been Ana M.P. Of course, even if they do find her body, they won't be able to prove intent. If there is just a charred corpse, they can only speculate.

Apparently, from what I read of the Spanish news, the explosion originated on her residence.

This is what's left of the building.
http://www.cadenaser.com/recorte/20081203csrcsrnac_4/LCO668/Ies/Peligra-vida-varios-heridos-explosion.jpg

On an update, 18 of the 28 injured are closely watched because their lives are in danger.

The police probably knows better than any of us.

The police probably knows better than any of us.

Just now, one of the 18 gravely injured victims died.

It is believed the explosion was caused by a female neighbor, Ana M.P., who was supposed to be thrown out of the apartment for failing to make the monthly, rent payments this morning. She had written a letter that was published last week by the local newspaper saying that she was "desperate" regarding the situation.

Could she have caused the explosion in her desperation? What do you think, NSG?

sad story. but whether or not she DID depends on what investigators find.

Apparently, from what I read of the Spanish news, the explosion originated on her residence.

This is what's left of the building.
http://www.cadenaser.com/recorte/20081203csrcsrnac_4/LCO668/Ies/Peligra-vida-varios-heridos-explosion.jpg

On an update, 18 of the 28 injured are closely watched because their lives are in danger.

it may have originated from her apartement, but that doesn't mean deliberate.


:(

shes a witch! Burn her!!

*is too early to be making gas puns*

Spanish beans?

Could she have caused the explosion in her desperation? What do you think, NSG?

I don't have clues to support my opinion, anyway I wouldn't discard that hypotesis a priori. Desperate people have a penchant for drastical measures. Or maybe it was an attempted suicide gone horrendously bad.

Mala tempora currunt. :(

Heresy. It doesn't get far in court.
You probably mean "hearsay" :D
Do they know what apartment she was in?
When my building burned down, it started in the apartment of a guy who hadn't made January rent, wasn't going to make February rent, and had barricaded the door against the manager when he tried to talk it through. But investigators never did conclusively establish whether he set the fire himself, and there will probably never be a conclusive answer in this case either.

sad story. but whether or not she DID depends on what investigators find.

I don't think they may find much. Her body was burnt to a crisp. They are deeming this an accident caused by some sort of electrical malfunction. The sparks caused the gas explosion.

I'm beginning to think Ana M.P. was trying to commit suicide and the accident occurred.:(

Erm... fuck. :eek:

What's the death/injury toll now?

What's the death/injury toll now?

28 injured, 18 are extremely injured and 1 already died.

28 injured, 18 are extremely injured and 1 already died.

Not good. Es muy mal.

Not good. Es muy mal.

Yes, it is bad.:(

As much as I enjoy chaos, especially when nobody dies, I'm having a hard time enjoying this. Burns on 60% of one's body is just no fun to think about. :(

28 injured, 18 are extremely injured and 1 already died.

Well, that makes it official then. :(

As much as I enjoy chaos, especially when nobody dies, I'm having a hard time enjoying this. Burns on 60% of one's body is just no fun to think about. :(

5 of the injured are children.:(

Just because I do bad things, doesn't make those bad things my fault, Nanatsu!

Just because I do bad things, doesn't make those bad things my fault, Nanatsu!

What in tarnation are you talking about, Fiddy?

What in tarnation are you talking about, Fiddy?
The poll. he thinks you're blaming him for the incident and not the fact that it is his fault that you were thinking of him when doing the poll. *nods*

I'm hoping there wasn't criminal intent. poor guys.

The poll. he thinks you're blaming him for the incident and not the fact that it is his fault that you were thinking of him when doing the poll. *nods*

Oops, I forgot he was a poll option.

Sowwy, Fiddy.:(

I'm hoping there wasn't criminal intent. poor guys.

The police is certainly looking into that because the apartment where the explosion originated was abode of a lady that was going to be kicked out the same day of the explosion. Too early to say, though, if it was criminal intent or mere accident.