After a day of inconclusive searches, firefighters in Zalamea de la Serena press on with the effort to locate the second sister missing from the burned dwelling. While the body of one woman has been found on the property, the extent of its condition has prevented positive identification so far. The sisters, Matilde and Manuela, are believed to be between 51 and 53 years old and were residents of the town in the Badajoz province. Local authorities report that the residence was densely packed with items, suggesting a possible chaotic routine prior to the fire, and early theories indicate the blaze began at dawn with multiple scorched areas visible as it emerged.
In remarks to the public, the town’s mayor, José Antonio Murillo Dávila, announced that days of mourning would be observed this Wednesday evening. The main priority remains locating the other sister. Officials have not yet established a definite cause for the fire, leaving open possibilities such as a barbecue incident, an electrical short, or another accidental trigger.
Three teams from the provincial fire brigade consortium of the Badajoz Provincial Assembly were deployed to the scene on Amparo and Lulipa streets, where the emergency was reported around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, which caused severe damage to the structure.
Local Police, the Civil Guard, and an ambulance from the Extremadura Health Service (SES) also responded to the scene.
Early Thursday, crews resumed clearing rubble to reach the missing sister. There remains a high risk of collapse given the house’s poor condition, and firefighters have shored up the structure to continue the search while debris is removed.
Thursday brought a mood of sadness and anxiety among neighbors, who described the two sisters as private and quiet, yet respectful members of the community.
The sisters, both orphans, lived together in the burned house. They had no children, and one was pursuing English philology in study, though not actively practicing at the moment. They were known to visit nearby towns, including Don Benito, for daily tasks. At the time the fire was declared, transportation services operating between Zalamea and Don Benito were alerted to locate any information about their whereabouts, though confirmation of their travel status could not be established at that moment.