Defendants began their appearance before the judge as prosecutors sought to establish responsibility for a deadly fire at two nightclubs in Murcia’s Atalayas district on October 1. The blaze claimed thirteen lives, and this week two individuals under investigation are slated to testify about their involvement, including details about a cold flame device allegedly used at the Teatre venue, where the tragedy unfolded. They are currently free and will enter the courthouse through a back entrance because the main doors were closed for maintenance following a plaque-related issue.
The National Police continue to lead inquiries with the aim of clarifying the events that morning and identifying those accountable. The Teatre manager is expected to appear before the court on Tuesday of next week. The sister in charge of the facility, Eva Martínez, along with Marcos Martínez, who has reportedly been abroad in the Caribbean, have not yet returned. If they fail to appear, the court may issue warrants for search and seizure.
Investigators have emphasized the relevance of the testimony given this Tuesday by the man and the DJ who supplied the spark device. One of them previously stated to police that the cold flame box was purchased from an online marketplace and that the materials needed to produce the flares were obtained from a local company in Murcia. Authorities are reviewing these statements to determine whether there was time to evacuate once the fire began and what safety measures were in place in the Teatre and adjacent venues. In the morning, thirteen people were found deceased in the room where the fire originated, while the adjoining venues did not report fatalities as evacuation procedures were followed under the supervision of staff and emergency responders.
Eva Martínez’s upcoming testimony is considered crucial because Fonda indicated that if the neighboring building had been connected in a way that allowed earlier access, it might have allowed more people to exit before conditions worsened. Observers note that no fatalities occurred inside the Teatre building itself, whereas thirteen people perished in the Fonda room where the fire originated, highlighting the importance of evacuation procedures and crowd control during emergencies.