One Dead and 13 Poisoned in Madrid Fire Caused by Candle During Blackout

On Monday night, a 56-year-old woman was found dead in her home due to a fire that broke out in her first-floor apartment in the Carabanchel district of Madrid during the electrical blackout that affected Spain and Portugal. Investigations by the National Police suggest that the flames were ignited by a candle. The smoke quickly spread to other apartments in the building, resulting in thirteen additional people being poisoned, five of whom were taken to the hospital for observation.

The first emergency call was made around 9:50 PM, reporting the flames. Within minutes, firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire. However, the woman residing in the apartment where the fire originated had already passed away.

The main hypothesis being investigated is that the fire was caused by a candle, as the flames erupted at a time when electricity had not yet been fully restored to this area of the capital.