Deadly fire in Spain's southern city of Valencia has grim echoes of London Grenfell Tower disaster
CBSFeb 23
Spain: Deadly Apartment Block Inferno Strikes Valencia
The Facts
At least 10 people have died, and multiple others have been injured after a huge fire gutted a 14-story building apartment in Spain's Valencia on Thursday.
The toll could rise as Spanish firefighters continue to fight high winds to douse the flames, which has reportedly reduced the high-rise "to a skeleton," and find at least 19 missing.
The Spin
Narrative A
Spain's poor track record of substandard infrastructure planning has profoundly contributed to Valencia's tragic fire. Thursday's tragedy could have been prevented if the building hadn't been covered with highly combustible polyurethane cladding, which is no longer in widespread use. The builder must be charged with manslaughter and negligence, while the government must work towards a concrete infrastructure plan to avoid such incidents.
Narrative B
It's still unclear what caused the blaze, but the authorities have deployed emergency personnel, paramedics, and military units to aid all affected people. Meanwhile, the government is determined to bring anyone responsible for the terrible fire to justice. However, as this is an unprecedented tragedy, the priority right now is to find the survivors, secure the area, and care for the victims' families —then begin a detailed probe.