The Unified Police Union of Alicante has asked the provincial chief commissioner to officially recognize Officer Iván B.M. for his courageous action at the Industrias Climber factory in Ibi, where three people died after a boiler explosion. The officer, a member of the SUP and assigned to the Alicante Citizen Security Brigade, was off duty last Wednesday. Together with a local officer from Ibi, he did not hesitate to act and risked his life by entering the plant to aid injured workers.
From the provincial committee of the SUP they highlight the professionalism and vocation of service of national police officers stationed in Alicante, such as Iván B.M., who lives in Ibi and was off duty when he heard the massive blast. The agent, who had previously volunteered in Valencia to help those affected by the DANA disaster, quickly identified the company and arrived at the scene just five minutes after the explosion. On arrival he found only a local officer from Ibi, and given the urgency of the intervention they decided to try to enter the company, knowing it employed many workers.
Debris at the Entrance
The debris blocked the entrance at first, making entry impossible. The national police officer, aided by the local officer, climbed more than four meters along a beam to reach inside and open the doorway.
Iván located the first victim with severe burns and guided him toward the exit so the local officer could carry him outside, where medical teams attended and he was later evacuated by helicopter to Valencia due to the severity. Iván returned inside the warehouse, locating additional workers and, with the local officer, searched for the injured and helped them exit.
Some injured were carried on the officers’ backs to transport them from the blast zone, while those able to walk were guided toward the exit. When more emergency services arrived, both officers directed them to the entry they had used to access the building, and all personnel moved inside.
According to the SUP, Iván B.M. continued to search for survivors and located two more victims. He placed one on a rescue stretcher and urgently removed him, though medical teams could not save the worker. The officer re-entered the warehouse with the stretcher and carried out another worker who had multiple fractured ribs.
The search continued because a worker remained unaccounted for, but sadly he was found deceased at the scene.
From the SUP, they publicly acknowledged the work of Officer Iván B.M. and the local officer and have urged the provincial chief commissioner of Alicante to grant the official recognition they deserve.