A suspected gas leak explosion in Madrid killed one person and injured 25 others after ripping through the ground floor of a three‑story building on Saturday, emergency services in the Spanish capital said.
Rescue workers found the body of a man during a search operation using dogs, authorities said. Firefighters pulled four people from the rubble after the blast, which occurred at about 3 p.m., according to the city’s fire chief, Javier Romero. The explosion heavily damaged a café, a store and other nearby properties.
Madrid emergency services said 25 people were treated for injuries following the blast. Officials did not release immediate details about the severity of those injuries or the identities of the victims. Local firefighters told Spanish news agency EFE that they suspect a gas leak caused the explosion, but police said their investigation into the exact cause remained ongoing.
Emergency crews secured the scene and conducted search and rescue operations, including the use of dogs to check for survivors and victims in the damaged structure. Neighbors and passersby reported hearing a powerful blast and seeing smoke and debris, prompting a rapid response from multiple municipal services.
Authorities began an on‑site inquiry into the circumstances that led to the explosion and were expected to coordinate with utility inspectors and forensic teams as part of the probe. Officials did not immediately say whether the building had reported previous gas issues or whether any businesses or residences in the block had been evacuated before the blast.
Local emergency services have periodically warned residents of the risks associated with gas leaks and urged regular maintenance of installations, but investigators cautioned against drawing conclusions until the completion of technical inspections and witness interviews. The blast caused significant structural and cosmetic damage to the ground‑floor units and shook nearby buildings, prompting temporary street closures while crews worked to stabilize the site.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the explosion or who may have footage of the incident to contact local police as the inquiry proceeds. Madrid officials said they would provide updates as further details became available.