Pain and horror spread through the Murcian town of Caravaca as four young lives were lost when a fire broke out at the Atalayas nightclub in Murcia. The event left Jorge and Rosa widow and parent to three orphaned children. Kevin and Leidy Paola, a newly married couple, were among those who perished. Leidy Paola had sent a heart‑rending message to her mother just before she died, a testament to the sudden shock of the night.
Four youths had traveled together in a single car for a night of celebration, some of them stepping into this venue for the first time. What began as a routine evening quickly turned into tragedy.
Jairo Correa, father of Leidy Paola, a familiar figure in the municipality who runs a phone shop on Gran Vía, recalled the impact. Nearby workers described their grief. Loli, who runs a computer store a short distance away, fought back tears as he spoke, saying he had known the group for years and that the first thing he did after hearing the news was reach out to them. At another clothing shop, Sergio remembered the family as kind and modest, adding that such an accident could happen to anyone, noting that he too had spent many nights out dancing there. Crowds gathered around the shop, which closed for the day as a mark of respect.
Residents expressed a shared sense of sorrow, reminding one another that accidents like these could happen to anyone, describing the night as a game of Russian roulette that no one would want to play.
One minute of silence
A moment of silence was observed in Plaza del Arco, near the City Hall. Members of the municipal administration, employees, and many residents attended the ceremony to honor the victims. Adriana Escobar, a friend of the deceased, spoke through tears about the long friendship and the pain now felt by the community, saying she had known them for more than twenty years and had watched their families grow up.
Rosa, aged 32, was also among the deceased. She had recently participated in an employment program that had closed the day before, and she had been excited to share plans for the party with her coworkers. Friends described her as a fun and lively person who loved life and who would be deeply missed.
In response to the tragedy, Caravaca’s mayor, José Francisco García, stated that caring for the children and arranging support for the families would be a top priority. The youngest children attend CEIP La Santa Cruz, and the older sibling is enrolled at IES Ginés Pérez Chirinos. A mourning protocol is active at both schools, and today a team from the Ministry of National Education’s Coexistence Observatory is scheduled to visit to meet teachers and students who knew the victims well. A Red Cross unit is available if additional assistance is needed.
The Caravaca councilor shared that he accompanied relatives to Murcia to assess needs on Sunday. Paola’s mother required psychological support at her home in Caravaca, and the official emphasized that what the families need most is information, since the formal identification process is expected to take some time.