The Valencia court has ruled the fire that engulfed a residential building in the Campanar neighbourhood in February twenty twenty four as accidental. The incident led to the deaths of ten people and left fifteen others injured. The presiding magistrate concluded that there is no criminal liability in the case, prompting the closure of the investigation.
The fire originated from a leak of refrigerant gas in one of the flats and rapidly spread, consuming the fourteen-storey building in just forty-five minutes. Experts noted that although the building complied with safety regulations, its cladding material – aluminium with a polyethylene core – was not fire-resistant, which contributed to the flames’ swift propagation.
This marks the second provisional dismissal of the case by the Juzgado de Instrucción number nine, following an initial suspension in March twenty twenty four, shortly after the tragedy. Despite the provincial prosecutor’s support for this closure, the matter was reopened after a review by the provincial court in June.
Families of the victims continue to seek a thorough investigation, with representatives expressing a desire for comprehensive accountability. Legal counsel for some victims has called for a detailed inquiry by the scientific police brigade into the circumstances surrounding the fire, underscoring the ongoing demand for clarity and justice.
This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication.