Madrid was rocked by a devastating gas explosion on Saturday, September 13, 2025, leaving a community in the Puente de Vallecas district reeling. The blast, which occurred around 3 p.m. local time on Manuel Maroto Street, tore through a commercial space recently converted into a residence, the building above it, and the neighboring Peruvian bar 'Mis Tesoros.' The incident has left at least 25 people injured, several in serious condition, and claimed the life of a 52-year-old man whose body was discovered the following morning beneath a mountain of rubble.
According to reports from Anadolu Ajansi (AA) and the Spanish daily El País, the explosion was powerful enough to blow open the front gate of the building and hurl debris into the street, where it struck a passing car, injuring its occupants. The ground floor of the three-story building bore the brunt of the blast, which authorities believe was caused by a concentration of gases. However, as of Sunday, the exact type of gas, the cause, and the precise origin point of the explosion remained under investigation.
Emergency services responded swiftly and in force. The Madrid Emergency Information Office (MEIO) reported via X (formerly Twitter) that 18 firefighter crews rushed to the scene, joined by specialized canine units from the National Police. Firefighters, working manually due to the unstable structure, spent hours searching through the debris for survivors. Their efforts were painstaking and dangerous—heavy machinery was deemed too risky given the state of the building. In a testament to their determination, four people were rescued from beneath the rubble, and many more were evacuated from the area.
Tragically, a relative’s concern led police and firefighters to intensify their search, resulting in the discovery of the 52-year-old man’s body in a basement area under a large amount of sand and debris. As reported by El País, canine guides specializing in the search for people and human remains played a crucial role in locating the victim. The National Police confirmed on X, “Three #CanineGuides of @police specialized in the search for people and human remains … This morning they have located, together with the #Firefighters, the body of a 52-year-old man.”
The human toll was immediate and severe. According to Bernama, 25 people sustained injuries in the explosion, with three listed as seriously injured and two in potentially serious condition. All were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The blast not only devastated the ground floor but also inflicted significant structural damage to the building, particularly between the ground and first floors. This left municipal authorities with little choice but to evacuate the entire building, which housed nine apartments across three stories.
Madrid’s Deputy Mayor Inmaculada Sanz, who also heads the city’s Security and Emergencies, was on the scene to oversee the response. She told El País, “At this time, it seems that the possibility of anyone trapped has been ruled out. A significant portion of the rubble has been cleared, and firefighter dogs have been working in the area.” Sanz further explained that residents of the affected apartments may have to be relocated for several days due to the “significant damage to the structural flooring between the ground and first floors.” She assured the public that the City Council was coordinating with Samur Social to provide temporary housing for those displaced by the disaster.
The explosion’s impact extended beyond the immediate site. The adjacent bar, ‘Mis Tesoros,’ was heavily affected, and another building in the complex’s interior courtyard also suffered damage. Images from the aftermath, as documented by Gustavo Valiente of Europa Press, show emergency teams and firefighters sifting through the wreckage, their faces grim as they worked against the clock. The blast’s force was such that it sent debris flying into the street, damaging vehicles and further complicating rescue efforts.
As the dust settled, the focus shifted to understanding what went wrong. A fire department spokesperson told El País that the explosion was “caused by a concentration of gases primarily affecting the ground floor of the building.” The commercial space at the heart of the explosion had been converted into a residential unit just six months prior, raising questions about the safety protocols and inspections carried out during the conversion process. Authorities have yet to determine whether faulty installation, negligence, or an unforeseeable accident was to blame.
Residents and local business owners in Puente de Vallecas are now grappling with the aftermath. The building, once home to nine families, is uninhabitable for the foreseeable future. Municipal technicians are set to conduct a full structural assessment to determine the extent of the damage and the steps needed to make the area safe again. In the meantime, those displaced are relying on the city’s emergency housing services, and many are left wondering when—or if—they will be able to return home.
The explosion has also reignited concerns about urban safety and the risks associated with converting commercial spaces into residential units, a practice that has become more common in Madrid and other European cities in recent years. While officials have been careful not to jump to conclusions, the incident underscores the importance of rigorous safety checks and adherence to building codes, especially when it comes to gas installations and ventilation systems.
For the families affected, the tragedy is deeply personal. The loss of a loved one, the trauma of sudden displacement, and the uncertainty of what comes next have left a mark on the neighborhood. Yet, amid the chaos and sorrow, there were moments of resilience and community spirit. Firefighters and emergency personnel worked tirelessly, sometimes at great personal risk, to save lives and bring comfort to those in distress. Local residents, too, rallied to support one another, offering food, shelter, and solidarity in the hours after the blast.
As Madrid begins the slow process of recovery, investigators will continue their work to determine what caused the deadly explosion. Their findings will be eagerly awaited—not only by those directly affected but also by city officials, safety regulators, and communities across Spain. For now, the Puente de Vallecas district faces a period of mourning and rebuilding, united by a shared determination to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.