In Flamingoville, San Pedro del Pinatar, the 2019 fire incident at the night club site is recalled with renewed scrutiny
Flamingoville, located in the Puerto Deportivo area of San Pedro del Pinatar, suffered a major blaze in the afternoon of September 23, 2019. The venue, owned by Flamingo San Pedro SL, was operated by Teatre Murcia since 2017 under the direction of Juan Inglés Rojo, a partner and sole director of the company. The fire damaged a large portion of the premises, yet there were no recorded fatalities or serious injuries, and the structural damage was subsequently repaired after the event.
Evidence from municipal records indicates that Flamingoville remained closed for a period following the incident and was situated on the waterfront site formerly known as Puerto Deportivo Villa. The event drew significant attention due to the scale of the damage and questions about the facility’s licensing status in the aftermath. A local newspaper later reported that the venue did not have a music license at the time, a finding reflected in minutes from the City Council that identified Flamingo San Pedro SL and El Puerto CB as responsible for a serious violation under the Regional Environmental Protection law. This reference underscores the regulatory concerns surrounding the venue’s operations.
Minutes also note a fine of 5,000 euros issued to the company, with the warning that the site could not resume music activities without proper licensing. The document outlined a two‑month window to complete the licensing process, otherwise an order to halt musical activity would be issued. The content demonstrates the authorities’ expectation that the venue operate within permitted guidelines and invest in the necessary permits before resuming public performances.
Following the deadline, the tavern operated only during the summer months, continuing to welcome patrons while the legal steps remained unresolved. Local police then visited the site in July 2022 to enforce closure, according to municipal sources. The operators appealed the decision for a period that extended several months, and Flamingoville attempted a return to operation during summer 2022. When an appellate decision upheld the suspension, the venue finally closed its doors in April 2023 after an extended dispute.
In temporary prison
Juan Inglés Rojo, according to the Murcia Commercial Register, has managed Teatre Murcia since September 2018. He has also been involved with around a dozen other companies, including several hospitality ventures, and held a stake in Omarcux, a loan firm. This web of interests led to scrutiny and detention on charges related to forgery, fraud, and embezzlement, although a prior court decision acquitted him on some counts in 2018.
The legal proceedings touched the broader community because some individuals faced financial losses tied to money lending arrangements. The case highlighted the fragile balance between business ventures and personal liabilities in active hospitality groups.
Locals deny they were ordered to stop
The owners of Teatre and Fonda Milagros nightclubs asserted that they were not given formal orders to cease operations by the city authorities. Juan Esteban Ramírez, the Colombian businessman who runs Fonda Milagros, stated that he had not been informed of any directive to close or suspend activities. He argued that it would be unreasonable for authorities to permit a venue without a license to operate for an extended period. Ramírez’s counsel likewise rejected claims that a formal order to stop had been issued, underscoring that a license allegedly existed but documents were reported as damaged on site.
The Teatro company spokesperson, María Dolores Abellán, reiterated that the nightclub possessed a license and indicated that the necessary documents would be gathered to challenge any alleged irregularities or misinformation. She noted that Fonda Milagros had entered into a lease with Teatre to use part of the warehouse, and both nightclubs rejected claims that the fire originated within their premises.
During the night of the incident, Teatre hosted the event dubbed “We Are Remember,” organized by DJ Carlos Ruiz, who performs as Di Carlo. Ruiz expressed disbelief at the situation and voiced condolences for the victims and their families, stating he was unaware of any municipal order affecting the venue. DJ Paco García, a frequent performer at the location, indicated he did not know that his participation would occur after a halt had been issued, describing the event as a regrettable tragedy.