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Date Published: 26/04/2023

ARCHIVED - Building occupied by squatters goes up in flames in Orihuela

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The fire broke out around midday close to Orihuela's bustling weekly street market

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Building occupied by squatters goes up in flames in Orihuela

An old building taken over by squatters in Orihuela has been gutted in a fire that broke out while crowds gathered for the weekly street market just metres away.

The voracity of the flames and the huge column of black smoke sparked chaos in Calle Castellón around midday on Tuesday April 25, and the Local Police was forced to close the street to safeguard residents and people attending the market in neighbouring Avenida Marqués de Molins. <span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Building occupied by squatters goes up in flames in Orihuela

It's not clear if anyone was inside at the time, but there have been no reports of any injuries, only extensive damage to the building and a car parked outside.

The cause of the fire is unknown. Once the flames had been extinguished at around 3.45pm, firefighters found an accumulation of personal belongings at the entrance to the property, and remains of illegal power connections were discovered.

In addition to closing the street, fire crews noticed sparks from overhead power lines and asked Iberdrola to cut the power for several hours.

An investigation into the blaze is underway.

Firefighters also battled a wildfire in La Pisana, Orihuela, bordering Beniel on Tuesday which, according to Local Police was "due to agricultural burning".

"Remember that, with this heatwave, you have to be very careful," warned the police in a Twitter post.

Read also: Three foreign nationals arrested for growing over 700 cannabis plants in a house in Cox

Image: Policia Local Orihuela

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