Murcia honours victims of deadly nightclub fire on first anniversary
The emotional tribute was marked by the absence of many of the victims’ relatives
On the first anniversary of the tragic fire that claimed 13 lives at the Teatre and Fonda Milagros nightclubs in the Atalayas area of Murcia capital city on October 1, an emotional ceremony was held to honour the victims.The event, organised by Murcia City Council, saw firefighters, police, civil protection personnel and social workers gather to pay tribute, with a commemorative plaque and monolith installed in their memory.
A minute’s silence was observed, and a laurel wreath was laid at the base of the monolith, where the names of the victims are inscribed. The plaque, unveiled by the Ecuadorian consul, whose country lost five citizens in the tragedy, bears the message: ׅ“There is no goodbye for those who will always be in our hearts”.
Explainer: How did the Murcia nightclub fire start?
Despite the solemnity of the occasion, many relatives of the victims were notably absent. Those present, like Rafael Miranda, father of one of the deceased, expressed the deep and enduring pain of their loss. As he said, “The loss of a son cannot be recovered with anything.” His words captured the raw grief that still resonates a year after the fire.
Murcia’s deputy mayor, Rebeca Pérez, spoke of the importance of remembering the victims and praised the emergency services for their efforts on the night of the fire. However, she avoided addressing criticisms from families who felt the council had not done enough in the aftermath of the tragedy. The brief 10-minute ceremony concluded with a poignant reflection from María Soto, a Civil Protection psychologist: “The memory of what happened and of those who are no longer here will be eternal.”
The two burnt out nightclubs are now being torn down, although the investigation into who is at fault remains open pending expert reports.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Murcia
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