Two people were killed and another 12 were injured — including six in serious condition — after a fire broke out at a restaurant in Madrid Friday night, authorities said.
The blaze at the Burro Canaglia Bar & Resto, an Italian restaurant in the Salamanca neighborhood of the Spanish capital, is believed to have been caused by a waiter flambéing pizza.
Flambé, meaning flamed in French, is a cooking technique in which a dish is doused in alcohol and lit on fire.
An eyewitness told Spain’s El Pais newspaper that the flames used by the waiter quickly set fire to the walls and the ceiling, which was decorated with plastic plants.
Carlos Marín, head of Madrid’s fire department, said the fire started near the entrance — and since the restaurant only had one exit, people were “completely trapped” inside.
Firefighters arrived to the restaurant within minutes and were able to rescue 12 people. Two victims between the ages of 25 and 30 didn’t survive.
Madrid Mayor Luis Martinez-Almeida, who called the blaze “extremely intense,” later told reporters that the two people killed were a restaurant employee and a customer.
There are several restrictions in place for venues in Madrid when it comes to using flammable material on ceilings and walls, and decorations need to comply with safety rules and regulations, according to El País.
The restaurant, which opened in January 2022, had all of its licensees “in order,” the newspaper said citing local sources.
The incident is being investigated by police.
