Editorial: El País

• A devastating fire in Valencia has resulted in at least nine deaths and 15 injuries.
• The cause of the fire is under investigation with suspicion falling on certain flammable elements in the facade or structure that could have contributed to the rapid spread.
• The building, which was completed in 2008, follows a 1996 construction code as it was completed before the new fire regulations were implemented in 2007.
• According to the Mapfre Foundation, in 2022 there were more than 18,000 fires and explosions in homes in Spain, resulting in 176 deaths, the highest number in a decade.
• There is a call for a necessary review of the common type of construction in Spain to prevent similar future incidents.

Conclusion: This devastating incident highlights the urgency of prioritizing fire safety measures, especially in older buildings that are not under updated fire regulations. Society, administrations, builders, and insurers must take this horrific incident as a warning to improve construction and safety regulations.

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