Man dies in Los Barreros house fire

A 52-year-old man died on Monday afternoon after a fire broke out in his ground-floor home in the Los Barreros neighbourhood of Cartagena. Neighbours alerted the 112 emergency line after seeing heavy black smoke coming from a property on Isabel la Católica street and reporting possible occupants inside.

Local Police, the city fire brigade and several ambulances responded to the call. Firefighters located the man inside the flat, removed him to the street and emergency teams began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but were unable to revive him.

Residents said the victim was unable to escape unaided because he used a wheelchair, which likely prevented his timely evacuation. Pending the outcome of an autopsy, authorities suspect smoke inhalation as the cause of death.

Other family members and neighbours were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. A 76-year-old woman was taken to Hospital Santa Lucía by a Protection Civil ambulance for further care.

The origin of the fire remains unknown and an investigation has been opened to determine how the blaze started and whether any safety measures failed.